In a significant relief to street vendors in Pimpri-Chinchwad near Pune, Maharashtra, the Supreme Court has granted interim protection from eviction to nearly 19,792 vendors. The Court ruled that until the process of identifying hawking and non-hawking zones is completed under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, the vendors should not be displaced.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued the order and stated:

"The exercise to accommodate the 19,792 street vendors, or 14,000 as pointed out by the respondent Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, is ongoing. Until this exercise is completed, all parties must maintain the status quo concerning the possession and functioning of the street vendors."

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The Court further emphasized that street vendors must be treated with dignity and respect and that their eviction must not occur in an illegal manner.

Background of the Case

The issue dates back to October 2023, when the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) requested at least six weeks to complete the process mandated by the Street Vendors Act. However, almost a year later, in September 2024, the Corporation informed the Court that the final list of street vendors, prepared on February 7, 2024, included 19,792 names. Due to financial and logistical constraints, the Corporation sought additional time to accommodate all registered vendors.

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Recognizing the delay in completing the process, the Supreme Court directed that until the Corporation completes the identification of vending zones, the vendors must not be displaced. The Court’s ruling provides temporary relief to thousands of street vendors who were facing potential eviction.

Advocate Zain Haider represented the petitioners in the case, arguing for the protection of the vendors' rights under the Street Vendors Act.

Case Title: MAHARASHTRA PHERIWALA KRANTI MAHASANGH VERSUS PIMPRI-CHINCHWAD MUNICIPAL CORPORATION & ORS., SLP(C) No. 5144/2023