New Delhi, March 20: In a landmark ruling that seeks to balance the rights of street vendors with public convenience, the Delhi High Court has allowed a licensed street vendor in Malviya Nagar to continue his business, while imposing stringent conditions to prevent encroachment and ensure hygiene. The case was brought forth by Rajnesh Singh, a street vendor holding a valid Certificate of Vending (CoV), who claimed that officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) were obstructing his ability to vend peacefully at his designated spot.
During the court proceedings, the MCD opposed Singh’s plea, citing concerns such as obstruction of pedestrian pathways, accumulation of garbage, and inadequate cleanliness at the vending site. The civic body presented photographic evidence indicating that the vendor’s setup was encroaching on portions of the pavement, raising significant public inconvenience issues.
The bench, consisting of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Madhu Jain, acknowledged that while street vendors have a legal right to earn a livelihood, they must also ensure that public spaces remain unobstructed and hygiene standards are upheld. “Vendors must not encroach upon pedestrian areas and must maintain cleanliness around their vending sites,” the court emphasized in its ruling.
The High Court granted Singh permission to continue his vending activities but established clear operational guidelines to be followed: only small or medium gas cylinders are permitted, there must be no obstruction to pedestrian movement, cleanliness and hygiene must be maintained, dustbins must be placed near the stall, no permanent or temporary structures are allowed, and there is a strict ban on sub-letting or third-party use. The court warned that any violation of these conditions would empower the MCD to remove the vendor in accordance with the law.
In a significant relief for Singh, the court exempted him from the restriction limiting vending duration to 30 minutes at one spot, aligning this decision with similar previous rulings. The court has also directed MCD officials to conduct surprise inspections and submit a compliance report. A further review of the matter is scheduled for May 22, 2026.
This ruling underscores that while the law protects the rights of street vendors under the Street Vendors Act, it also requires adherence to discipline, cleanliness, and non-encroachment to ensure the smooth functioning of urban spaces.
