The Madras High Court has directed the jurisdictional city Deputy Commissioner of Police (DC) to file an affidavit stating as to how encroachments are being allowed on either side of the roads in and around the High Court here.
Passing orders on a contempt petition by ‘Traffic Ramaswamy' alias K.R.Ramaswamy, a social activist, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice M.Y.Eqbal and Justice T.S.Sivagnanam, referring to a statement in the counter affidavit, said it only showed that even after eviction of unauthorised hawkers from the flanks of either side of the road, they encroached the pavement again. “If that is so, then why the officers of the Corporation and the police officials allow the hawkers to encroach the pavements, once they have been evicted,” the court wondered.
The Bench pointed out that in the counter it had been stated inter alia that so far as the NSC Bose Road was concerned, as per the directions of the Chairman, Hawking Committee, 296 hawkers had been identified and shops allotted to them. They had also been issued identity cards.
Further, necessary action was taken to reallocate hawkers on NSC Bose Road as per the Chairman's directions. Hawkers who had encroached on NSC Bose Road were being periodically removed with the help of local police. It was being monitored by police. “We fail to understand the reason for evicting unauthorised hawkers periodically, once those unauthorised hawkers have already been evicted and removed from the flanks on either side of the road.”
The Bench directed the DC within whose jurisdiction NSC Bose Road, Parrys Corner and other roads in and around High Court fall to file the affidavit. It directed the Advocate-General to file a counter. The matter has been posted for February 27.
