Street Vendors Have 'Bounden Duty' To Maintain Cleanliness, Not Encroach Public Spaces: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has observed that street vendors have a “bounden duty” to maintain cleanliness around their vending sites and ensure that they do not encroach upon public spaces or obstruct pedestrian movement.A Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Madhu Jain made the observation while dealing with a petition filed by a street vendor alleging that officials of the...
The Delhi High Court has observed that street vendors have a “bounden duty” to maintain cleanliness around their vending sites and ensure that they do not encroach upon public spaces or obstruct pedestrian movement.
A Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Madhu Jain made the observation while dealing with a petition filed by a street vendor alleging that officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) were not allowing him to vend at his designated site in Malviya Nagar.
Petitioner, who held a valid Certificate of Vending (CoV) for operating a food/snack stall using a gas cylinder, sought protection to continue his vending activity. He also pointed out that he suffered from a disability in his upper limb.
Opposing the plea, the MCD submitted that the petitioner had encroached upon the pavement by placing stools and had failed to maintain cleanliness and hygiene at the site. Photographs placed on record showed obstruction of pedestrian pathways and accumulation of garbage.
Taking note of the material, the Court emphasised,
“Clearly, there is a bounden obligation upon persons who are running vends to maintain cleanliness around the vend and not completely occupy the pavement or the road in front of the vend.”
It has now permitted the Petitioner to continue vending at the site, subject to strict conditions. It directed that the vendor must restrict his operations to a limited space, use only a small or medium-sized gas cylinder, and ensure proper cleanliness, including placing a dustbin near the stall.
The Court also cautioned that any violation of the stipulated conditions, including encroachment or failure to maintain hygiene, would entitle the MCD to remove the vendor in accordance with law.
Appearance: Mr. Sanjay Baniwal, Ms. Manisha and Mr. R. K. Seewal, Advs. for Petitioner; Ms. Meherunnisa Anand and Mr. Sirish Gupta Advs. for MCD.
Case title: Rajnesh Singh v. MCD
Case no.: W.P.(C) 3557/2026