'Tardy, Inefficient': High Court Raps Delhi Govt For Failing To Constitute Dispute Resolution Committee For Street Vendors

The Delhi High Court has expressed displeasure with the Delhi Government over its failure to constitute the Grievance Redressal and Dispute Resolution Committee under the Streets Vendors Act, despite earlier directions passed in 2024. Justice Sachin Datta express its “dismay” at the “tardy and inefficient manner” in which the Delhi Government has proceeded in the matter. “It is hoped and expected that the GNCTD would get with greater efficiency and make the necessary appointment expeditiously. Let the same be done latest within a period of three weeks from today,” the Court said. It added that in case of on-compliance with the directions, the Secretary of Delhi Government's Department of Urban Development shall join the proceedings virtually on May 12, the next date of hearing.On February 02, the Court had taken record of Delhi Government's response that it will endeavour to complete the necessary process and to notify the constitution of the Grievance Redressal and Dispute Resolution Committee. On April 07, the Court was informed by the Joint Secretary of Department of Urban Development that the proposal for constitution of Grievance Redressal and Dispute Resolution Committee, which was initiated as far back as in September last year,, was returned on March 23 from the office of Delhi Government's Minister for Urban Development.It was submitted that a fresh proposal has been resubmitted to the concerned Minister for approval of the competent authority on March 25. Expressing displeasure over the development, the Court said:“It is unfortunate that the GNCTD has not been able to constitute the Grievance Redressal and Dispute Resolution Committee for such an inordinate period of time and that too despite directions contained in the judgment / order dated 25.04.2024.”The Court was dealing with a plea filed by one Mahesh Kumar Yadav seeking issuance of contempt proceedings alleging wilful disobedience of earlier directions passed by a division bench on April 25, 2024. In October last year, the Delhi Government had said that the Grievances Redressal and Disputes Resolution Committee of Street Vendors was duly constituted on March 12, 2020 and that the tenure of the Chairperson and Members was completed on March 11, 2025.It was submitted that the file for proposal for constitution of Grievances Redressal Resolution Committee was returned from the office of the Minister on September 08, 2025, to the Secretary of Urban Development. It was submitted that a fresh process was being initiated by the Urban Development Department, as per the directions of the Chief Minister of Delhi.On February 02, Justice Datta had said that he expects that necessary exercise be expedited so that the concerned Committee can be constituted within six weeks.Title: MAHESH KUMAR YADAV v. MANISH KUMAR GUPTA AND ANRCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Del) 383Click here to read order

'Tardy, Inefficient': High Court Raps Delhi Govt For Failing To Constitute Dispute Resolution Committee For Street Vendors

Nupur Thapliyal

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