Delhi High Court Refuses To Halt Town Vending Committee Elections Over OBC Reservation Dispute
The Delhi High Court refused to interfere with the ongoing elections for the constitution of the Town Vending Committee (TVC) in pleas filed by two street vendors who challenged the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) decision to treat them as general category candidates instead of OBC candidates.
A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan observed that the election process had already commenced and it was not inclined to interdict the elections at this stage.
“The entire process of issuance of certificates of vending to persons vending in Delhi is presently awaiting constitution of the TVC. Process for elections has already started and there is a proper schedule,” it reasoned.
Petitioners Mohd. Arfin and Subodh Bind had challenged the MCD's decision to place them in the general category for the TVC elections. Mohd. Arfin claimed to belong to the Other Backward Class (OBC) in Uttar Pradesh, while Subodh Bind asserted that he belonged to the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) in Bihar, which he contended was equivalent to the OBC category in Delhi.
It was argued that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (Election of the Members of Town Vending Committee from amongst the Street Vendors) Guidelines, 2026 do not require that an OBC certificate be issued by the authorities in Delhi.
Reliance was placed on Guideline 13(2), which merely requires a candidate contesting a reserved seat to declare the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Class, Handicapped or Minority category to which they belong.
MCD on the other hand contended that since it is a local body in Delhi, candidates seeking reservation under the OBC category must possess OBC certificates issued by the Delhi authorities.
The High Court noted that the elections to the Town Vending Committees are of significant importance and that the Court had previously monitored the election process in Sumit Verma v. GNCTD & Ors. It also referred to the Supreme Court's order in Saptahik Merchant Welfare Association (Registered) v. North Delhi Municipal Corporation & Ors., directing the reconstitution of TVCs within two months and the completion of vendor identification and relocation within six months thereafter.
"Under these circumstances, this Court is not inclined to interdict and create any interference in the said elections," it said and disposed of the petition.
Appearance: Ms. Anupradha Singh, Adv. for Petitioners; Ms. Arti Bansal, ASC, MCD with Ms. Shruti Goel, Adv. for Respondent
Case Title: Mohd. Arfin & Anr. v. Municipal Corporation of Delhi
Case No.: W.P.(C) 9829/2026