Ram Asare Maurya vs. Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Ors.
Background
A tea-stall vendor who already held a provisional Certificate of Vending complained that he continued to face harassment from MCD officials and Delhi Police despite holding the certificate. MCD's counsel submitted, on instructions, that the vendor was actually operating as a stationary vendor in a residential area and had earlier been relocated to avoid traffic congestion during the BRICS Summit.
Decision Breakdown
The Court observed from photographs that no food items were visible and that a gas cylinder had been placed directly on the footpath, which was impermissible. Nonetheless, following its recent similar orders for such vendors, the Court permitted him to continue vending subject to specific conditions on gas cylinder size, space usage, hygiene, and a bar on any permanent structure or sub-letting of the certificate.
Lesson Learnt
Holding a valid provisional vending certificate provides real protection against arbitrary removal, but vendors must still comply with safety conditions, such as not leaving gas cylinders exposed on public footpaths, to retain that protection.