The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday (Wednesday, 28 November) issued a notice to the Union of India and the Union Territory Administration over Street Vendors Act, 2014 act as broad definition of the term ‘street vendor’ could result in chaos, reports The Tribune.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Amit Rawal had noted that the existing definition allowed a street vendor to conduct his business ‘not only on streets but also on a lane, sidewalk, footpath, pavement, public park or any other public place or private area from a temporary built-up structure or by moving from place to place, including hawker, peddler and squatter’.

This would necessarily mean that pedestrians would be forced to walk on the road, leading to obstructions and congestion, and may even result in accidents.

The court had taken suo moto cognisance of the issue. The next date of hearing for the matter has been fixed on 18 January by the bench.

Justice Rawal also came down heavily on the unhygienic practices of street vendors, such as using adulterated water at tea stalls, utilising synthetic colours at food stalls, not ensuring proper garbage disposal etc. stating that such behaviour could even lead to an epidemic.

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