Bombay High Court Pulls Up Maha Govt Over Failure To Constitute Street Vendors' Grievance Redressal Committees, Calls Approach 'Careless'
The Bombay High Court has pulled up the Maharashtra Government over its failure to constitute Grievance Redressal Committees under Section 20 of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 across the State, observing that despite the Government Resolution dated 28 April 2026 directing constitution of such Committees within three months, there was virtually no compliance. The Court further observed that constitution of the Grievance Redressal Mechanism is "very much imperative" under the scheme of the 2014 Act, as a street vendor having a grievance or dispute can make an application before the Committee for redressal.
A Division Bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Manjusha Deshpande was monitoring compliance with its earlier directions regarding constitution of Grievance Redressal Committees. The Court noted that the Urban Development Department had issued a Government Resolution on 28 April 2026 directing Commissioners of Municipal Corporations and District Collectors to constitute such Committees within three months and submit compliance reports. However, the chart placed before the Court by the State showed that only nine Committees had been constituted across Maharashtra, comprising one Municipal Corporation (Dhule) and eight Municipal Councils.
The Court noted that this itself reflected how seriously Government officers took the directions issued by the Urban Development Department. On the difficulties pointed out by the AGP, the Court remarked that there is no real impediment in constituting the Committees.
“We did not ask the State Government to do some favour as we find that it is under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, Section 20 contemplate constitution of one or more committees…,” the Court observed.
The Court emphasized that the constitution of a Grievance Redressal Mechanism is crucial as a street vendor can make an application in writing to the Committee, which is authorised to carry out the verification and take such steps for redressal of such grievance.
The Court also referred to the Maharashtra Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules, 2016, which prescribe the constitution of the Committee as well as the qualifications and experience required for its members. When informed by the State that it was finding it difficult to find eligible members, the Court observed:
“… we are surprised with such an input being provided. As far as the Chairperson is concerned, he has to be person who has been a Civil Judge or a Judicial Magistrate, and we can trust the District Judge in every District to the extent that if at all a request is made for nominating a Judicial Magistrate or a person who was a Civil Judge… the appointment of the Chairperson can be sorted out… we fail to understand as is it so difficult to find one such person in each District or that the State Government is just making excuses for not implementing its own directions as the Urban Development Department has issued a Resolution.”
Observing that it is not the Court's job to take the issue any further, the Court left it to the Urban Development Department to take appropriate steps against those who had failed to ensure compliance. It directed the Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department, to personally file an affidavit ensuring compliance.
“… we find the response of the authorities below, on one or other reason to be extremely careless and we do not appreciate such approach… the Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department, to personally file an affidavit before us, ensuring the compliance or else we shall be constrained to observe that, the subordinates of the Urban Development Department do not feel itself bound by the Government Resolution and then State Government shall take a decision whether it amounts to be a misconduct on part of its own officers,” the Court remarked.
The Court extended the time for constitution of the Grievance Redressal Mechanism till 31 August 2026 and directed the matter to be listed on 3 September 2026.
Case Title: Palima Rajendra Kondar, Tata Nagar Zopadpatti v. Deputy Commissioner [Writ Petition No. 3890 of 2021]