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The Karnataka High Court on Thursday granted interim protection to 15 street vendors operating in Bengaluru's Krishna Raja (K.R.) Market, restraining civic authorities from evicting them until August 31.

The Court also directed the Joint Commissioner of the Bengaluru Central City Corporation to state whether the petitioners could be permitted to occupy their present vending spots.

A single judge bench comprising Justice B M Shyam Prasad was hearing a writ petition filed by the vendors challenging the eviction drive launched under the 'Safe Pedestrian Path Campaign', which commenced on July 1 across Bengaluru's reorganised City Corporations.

The Court directed that no precipitative action be taken against the petitioners, subject to the condition that they do not put up any temporary or permanent structures in the area occupied by them and do not hinder access for ambulances, fire engines, police or other official vehicles.

Further, the Court asked the Joint Commissioner to take a stand on:

(a) Whether the petitioners could be permitted to occupy the places as seen in the photographs produced before this Court; and

(b) Whether the petitioners could participate or are entitled to the survey exercise to be undertaken”, the court added.

At the outset, the Court queried the petitioners about whether their vending spots were located in the quadrangle, open area or on the footpath. It also asked whether they blocked access to ambulances or other emergency vehicles.

Advocate Angad Kamath, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the vendors were occupying open spaces in the vicinity of K.R. Market and had been vending pursuant to licences issued in 2017. Though the licences had expired, it was argued that the petitioners were entitled to renewal or relocation under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 and the Karnataka Street Vendors Scheme, 2020.

It was submitted that the vendors could not be evicted unless their applications for renewal were rejected. The petitioners further contended that a Town Vending Committee (TVC) could be constituted only after completion of a survey and that evictions could not be carried out without completing the statutory process.

The Court noted that it had recognised a limited right of street vendors while issuing directions in a similar matter disposed of yesterday[WP 23709/2026].

It also recorded the civic authorities' stand in similar cases that the eviction exercise was aimed at clearing footpaths and open areas where vending hindered access for ambulances, fire engines and transport vehicles.

The authorities had further submitted that a temporary TVC under the 2014 Act and the 2020 Scheme would identify and specify vending areas in four constituencies around K.R. Market and relocate vendors who could not be permitted to continue at their existing locations.

The Court also noted the civic body's submission that all street vending certificates had been withdrawn due to alleged fabrication, duplication and misuse, and that fresh certificates would be issued after a proper survey.

The matter will be taken up again on August 31.

Case Title: Shri Manjunath & Ors. v. State of Karnataka & Ors.

Case No.: WP No. 26107/2026

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