The Delhi High Court rejected a petition by seven street vendors who sought a directive compelling the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to allow them to take part in future surveys, emphasizing that without provisional Certificates of Vending they have no legal right to continue vending at the present sites.
Background & Facts
The Dispute
The petitioners, seven street vendors operating near the DMS depot No. 451-452, East Kidwai Nagar and at the corner of NBCC Barat Ghar, Kidwai Nagar, New Delhi, filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. They requested that the NDMC permit them to participate in any future survey of street vendors that the authority might conduct.
Key Facts
The petitioners do not possess any provisional Certificates of Vending (CoV).
They have been vending on public land, including footpaths and roads, without any valid authorization.
Photographs placed on record show encroachment on public spaces.
The NDMC completed a survey of street vendors in 2025; no future survey has been announced.
The constitution of the Town Vending Committee (TVC) is still under process.
Procedural History
28 July 2026: The writ petition (W.P.(C) 10441/2026 & CM APPL. 48460-61/2026) was heard by a Division Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan.
The petition was disposed of on the same day, with the court refusing the relief sought.
Parties' Positions
Petitioners argued that they should be allowed to participate in any future survey and that such participation would safeguard their livelihood.
Respondents (NDMC) contended that the petitioners are unauthorised vendors, lack CoV, and are occupying public land unlawfully; therefore, no right to participation exists.
Relief Sought
The petitioners sought a direction compelling the NDMC to permit their participation in any future survey and to recognize a right to continue vending at their present locations.
