Ramsewak Ray vs. Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Another
Background
A street food vendor holding a provisional Certificate of Vending complained that MCD officials and Delhi Police were harassing and disturbing him at his regular vending spot near a bus stand in Rajouri Garden.
Decision Breakdown
Following its own recent similar orders for other food vendors using a gas cylinder, the Court permitted the vendor to continue operating subject to the standard conditions of his provisional certificate (no obstruction of pedestrians/traffic, hygiene, no permanent structure, no subletting, using only a small cylinder), while relaxing the usual 30-minute time limit on mobile vending at one spot. This is subject to any future town-vending plan and creates no permanent vested right.
Lesson Learnt
Licensed street vendors have a right to be protected from arbitrary harassment by police or municipal staff so long as they follow the basic conditions of their vending certificate; courts will step in to protect that livelihood.