The Calcutta High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the implementation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood & Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 all over the state of West Bengal.
In the petition there are certain annexures which included notices issued by the National Highways Authority of India for removal of unauthorised encroachment on G.T. Road, Chandannagore etc.
It is not clear to the Court as to whose cause the petitioner society is canvassing. “The Court can take judicial note of the fact that encroachment is rampant throughout the State of West Bengal.”
Despite the direction of the Court, the State action is being taken by various local bodies but the authorities are unsuccessful in clearing the encroachment.
Thus, the Division Bench of Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya found that there is some hidden agenda behind the petition probably with a view to stall the eviction process. Therefore, the Court found such sweeping direction sought for by the petitioner society cannot be granted and that too in the guise of a PIL.