Encroachments on the pavements by street vendors at the Central Market in Lajpat Nagar here could prove fatal in case of a calamity like the 1996 bomb blast, the Delhi High Court said while directing that the area be maintained a no-hawking zone.
A Bench of Justices G.S. Sistani and Vinod Goel said the then Lieutenant-Governor had in 1996 declared the area a no-hawking or squatting zone as emergency vehicles found it difficult to reach the victims of the bomb blast that claimed 13 lives.
“This is a classic case where having learnt our lesson, we still refuse to adhere to the same,” the court said.
‘Choked lanes’
It noted that with the passage of time, the situation in the market area “has only worsened with the unabated influx of people and street vendors”.
“The effect of this is fatal and suicidal as in case of a calamity, no vehicles of emergency servicescan reach the spot ,” the Bench said. It said if encroachers were allowed to continue, then it would amount to putting in jeopardy the lives of numerous persons who visit the market daily.
“Being pitched between the conflicting rights of livelihood of the street vendors versus the life and security of the public in general, including the street vendors, we are of the opinion that the former must bow to the latter as, without life and security, no question of earning a livelihood can arise,” the Bench said.
It then ordered the South Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Delhi Police to maintain the market area as a no-squatting zone.
