The Delhi High Court has refused to interfere with the ongoing Town Vending Committee (TVC) elections in the national capital, observing that the polls are "extremely crucial" and cannot be derailed over individual candidates aggrieved by the rejection of their nominations.

Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan dismissed a writ petition filed by four candidates whose nominations for the TVC elections scheduled on August 2, had been rejected by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Emphasising the importance of the electoral exercise, the Court observed,

"The TVC elections are extremely crucial elections as there has been a substantial delay in the constitution of TVCs in Delhi, leading to several issues arising with respect to street vendors across Delhi... Thus these elections, in the opinion of this Court, ought not to be interdicted and held up due to grievances raised by any individual candidates."

Petitioners had challenged the rejection of their nominations to contest the elections under different reserved categories, including Persons with Disabilities, Scheduled Caste, OBC and Minority categories.

They contended that the Returning Officer had rejected their nominations without conducting the summary inquiry mandated under the Street Vendor (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules, 2017 and without recording reasons for such rejection.

MCD on the other hand submitted that the election schedule had already been notified and the final list of candidates has also been published. It also informed the Court that the Returning Officer had called the petitioners personally to resolve deficiencies in their nomination forms, but two candidates lacked category certificates issued in Delhi.

The High Court noted that polling was scheduled for August 2, 2026 and any interference at this stage would disrupt the election process, and consequently affect street vendors across Delhi.

The elections are “also important in the context of the role played by the TVC for finalization of certificates of vending for thousands of vendors in Delhi. Thus these elections, in the opinion of this Court, ought not to be interdicted and held up due to grievances raised by any individual candidates.”

The Court also took note of the Supreme Court's April 6 order in Saptahik Merchant Welfare Association (Registered) v. North Delhi Municipal Corporation & Ors, directing reconstitution of the TVCs within two months.

The Court further observed that several petitions seeking permanent certificates of vending were awaiting constitution of TVCs.

As such, the Court declined to entertain the writ petitions but granted liberty to the petitioners to avail other legal remedies after elections are concluded.

Appearance: Mr. Ramesh Kumar Mishra, Mr Shivam Tiwary & Mr. Saket Bhardwaj, Advs. for Petitioners; Ms. Puja S. Kalra, Standing Counsel, MCD with Mr. Virendra Singh, Adv. Ms. Neha Rastogi, Sr. Panel Counsel with Mr. Rajat Dubey, Adv. for R-4 & 5

Case title: Dharamveer & Ors. v. MCD

Case no.: W.P.(C) 9966/2026

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