By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 10: The Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), in an affidavit filed before the High Court of Meghalaya, has asserted that the location for the hawkers of Laitumkhrah would be completed by the first week of January 2026.
The affidavit, disclosing details and the current status of the vending zones, was taken on record during the hearing of a set of public interest litigations on Wednesday.
“Satisfactory progress has been made by the Shillong Municipal Board with regard to identifying vending zones in the Laitumkhrah area,” the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice W. Diengdoh said.
The minutes of the meeting of the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC) on November 13 and the inspection report on November 19 were also disclosed. It appeared from the minutes that out of 43 claims, 14 vendors had been included in the list published by the PTVC and the remaining 29 vendors were called for a hearing, out of which 15 vendors were found to be genuine and upon review, their names were recommended to the PTVC for further necessary action.
From the minutes of the meeting on December 4, the court observed that it appeared that the PTVC had resolved to finalise the list of the street vendors of the Laitumkhrah area, while the designated vending zones were duly notified by the government.
It was also observed that the Sub-Committee of PTVC, for verification of claims and objections, was formulating a standard operating procedure for the hearing of claims and objections with the approval of the Hawkers’ Association.
“In view of the aforesaid progress and the averment made in the said affidavit that the location of the hawkers would be completed expectedly by the first week of January, 2026, let this matter be listed on 28.01.2026,” the court order said, adding that a further report in the form of an affidavit shall be filed by the SMB on the adjourned date.
