Bombay HC Criticizes Maharashtra Govt Over Street Vendor Panels

The Bombay High Court has criticized the Maharashtra government for failing to set up Grievance Redressal Committees for street vendors across the state.

The court's criticism came after it was revealed that only nine committees had been constituted across Maharashtra, despite the Urban Development Department directing all municipal corporations and district collectors to complete the process within three months.

The deadline for setting up these committees expired on July 31.

A Bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande observed that the figures showed how seriously government officers had treated the directions issued by the Urban Development Department. The court was hearing a petition while monitoring compliance with its earlier directions under Section 20 of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

According to a chart placed before the court, only one municipal corporation, Dhule, and eight municipal councils had constituted the committees. The Bench said the government officers had not taken the directions seriously.

The court stressed that the grievance mechanism is essential because it provides street vendors with a forum to raise disputes and seek redress. It noted that the committee is empowered to verify complaints and take appropriate steps, while an appeal against its decision can be filed before the local authority.

The Bench also referred to the Maharashtra Street Vendors Rules, 2016, which lay down the composition and qualifications of committee members. When the State submitted that it was facing difficulty in identifying eligible members, the judges expressed surprise.

The court directed the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department to personally file an affidavit confirming compliance and warned that continued failure could force the court to observe that government officers were not following official directions.

The High Court extended the deadline for constituting the committees till August 31, 2026, and kept the matter for further hearing on September 3.

The court's decision highlights the importance of setting up these committees to ensure that street vendors have a platform to raise their grievances. The Maharashtra government has been given a new deadline to set up these committees, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the court's criticism.

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, mandates the constitution of one or more Grievance Redressal Committees to provide a forum for street vendors to raise disputes and seek redress. The court's decision is a significant step towards ensuring that the rights of street vendors are protected.

In conclusion, the Bombay High Court's criticism of the Maharashtra government is a wake-up call for the government to take the directions seriously and set up the Grievance Redressal Committees as mandated by the law. The court's decision will have a significant impact on the lives of street vendors in Maharashtra, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the court's criticism.