File photo: Madras High Court building
Reiterating the order of the Supreme Court on declaration of NSC Bose Road as 'No Hawking Zone,' Madras High Court today directed Corporation of Chennai and Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Greater Chennai City, to maintain the entire stretch as 'No Hawking Zone'.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice TS Sivagnanam before which the PIL filed by 'Traffic' Ramaswamy came up directed them to take necessary action and ensure the area is cleared of all encroachments and maintained as no hawking zone area.
Ramaswamy referred to the report of Justice Ramamoorthy, Chairman of Hawkers Committee, in which it was mentioned that the top Court had already declared the road as no hawking zone and said despite it, Police and Corporation officials had not taken any steps to do so.
He alleged there was a fresh move by the Corporation and Police Authorities to re allocate the place to hawkers in spite of earlier hawkers being rehabilitated.
The bench after perusing the PIL said it agreed with his submission that there was no question of any hawking in that area, especially when earlier hawkers had been rehabilitated.
Earlier, Ramasamy referred to a similar menace on the same stretch and the top Court orders governing the matter.
He submitted that the process of re-occupyig the pavements has begun and unless it was nipped in the bud, "we will have the same situation that existed prior to rehabilitation of the hawkers," he said furnishing photographs as well.
Accepting the submissions, the bench said those occupying the pavements are not entitled to do so, whether they are earlier hawkers or new ones.
To ensure that the orders are complied with in letter and spirit, the judges asked the corporation to depute officers to the area so that the menace does not recur.
The civic body must furnish photographic proof, the bench said.
Noting that it is the Corporation's duty to monitor the area, the judges said it should not have made Ramasamy approach the court for relief.
"Be that as it may, at least now the authorities must wakeup to the situation," they said.