Bombay High Court Criticizes Authorities for Clearing Streets Only for VVIPs

The Bombay High Court has strongly criticized the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the police for their selective action in clearing streets and footpaths only during visits by the Prime Minister and other VVIPs, while neglecting the needs of ordinary citizens. The court emphasized that a safe walking environment is a fundamental right for all citizens.

Key Takeaways

The Bombay High Court criticized the BMC and police for only clearing streets during VVIP visits.
The court emphasized that safe footpaths are a fundamental right for all citizens.
Authorities were urged to take drastic and consistent action against illegal hawkers.
The court suggested the creation of a database to identify and manage illegal hawkers.

Court’s Criticism of Selective Action

The Bombay High Court, during a hearing on the encroachment of footpaths by illegal hawkers, questioned why streets and footpaths are cleared promptly for VVIPs but not for the general public. The court highlighted that citizens, who are taxpayers, deserve the same level of service and safety.

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Fundamental Right to Safe Footpaths

The division bench of Justices M.S. Sonak and Kamal Khata stressed that having clear footpaths and a safe walking environment is a fundamental right of every citizen. The court pointed out that the authorities have an obligation to ensure this right is upheld consistently, not just during VVIP visits.

Ongoing Issue of Illegal Hawkers

The court took suo motu cognizance of the issue of illegal hawkers occupying footpaths, which forces pedestrians to walk on the streets, endangering their safety. The bench criticized the BMC for its ineffective actions and the lack of a permanent solution to this problem.

Need for Drastic Action

The court emphasized the need for drastic and immediate action to address the issue of illegal hawkers. It pointed out that the problem has persisted for years, and the authorities cannot continue to claim they are working on it without showing tangible results.

Suggestions for Improvement

The court suggested several measures to tackle the issue effectively:

Daily Clearing of Footpaths: The BMC should ensure that footpaths are cleared on a daily basis.
Identification of Illegal Hawkers: A database should be created to identify and manage illegal hawkers, preventing them from returning to the same spots.
Combing Operations: Regular combing operations should be conducted to identify and remove illegal hawkers.
Effective Penalties: The fines imposed on illegal hawkers should be substantial enough to deter them from returning.

Concerns Over Safety

The court also expressed concern over the safety of BMC officers and citizens who take action against illegal hawkers. There have been instances of assaults on both BMC officials and citizens who raise their voices against encroachments.

Next Steps

The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 22, where the court expects to discuss more concrete steps to resolve the ongoing issue of illegal hawkers and ensure safe footpaths for all citizens.