Shillong (Meghalaya), July 3 : The Meghalaya High Court has intervened in a dispute between street vendors and local authorities in Shillong’s Police Bazar area. A division bench comprising Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh passed a detailed order today, July 3, 2025, directing the Special Officer to oversee the implementation of the court’s orders.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association. The petitioners alleged that the local and police authorities were forcibly evicting vendors without providing alternative vending spaces.
The court directed the Special Officer to ensure that the vendors are not evicted without due process of law and that alternative vending spaces are provided. The General Secretary of the Hawkers’ Association has undertaken to ensure that vendors will shift to alternative vending places provided by the local authority.
The court also directed that other hawkers are free to apply for licenses, which will be considered by the authorities in accordance with law. The Special Officer will file a report containing sub-reports by local and police authorities on the implementation of the court’s orders by August 5.
The court’s intervention aims to balance the rights of street vendors with the need for orderly management of the area. The vendors have been given a reprieve, and the court’s orders are expected to bring relief to many families who depend on street vending for their livelihood.
The case highlights the importance of protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, such as street vendors, and ensuring that they are not subjected to arbitrary eviction or harassment.
