Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has granted the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) a “final opportunity” to submit details of the service provider responsible for developing and maintaining vending zones for street vendors in the city, along with an update on the work done.
A division bench noted on Friday that while the service provider, Indigenous Vendors Welfare India Association, was engaged on August 5, 2024, the GMC’s additional affidavit failed to specify the actions taken since the engagement.
Earlier, on August 14, the Court directed the GMC to provide details of 81 vending zones established under Section 18(1) of The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. The corporation was also asked to clarify the initiation of phase one and outline the facilities being provided to both vendors and the public.
The GMC’s affidavit indicated the service provider was tasked with developing uniform vending carts, conducting surveys, allocating carts to vendors, and managing maintenance aspects such as water supply, electricity, cleaning, waste management, and safety standards. However, the Court noted the absence of the official engagement order in the records.
“We grant the GMC’s counsel a final opportunity to produce the order dated August 5, 2024, engaging the service provider, along with details of work completed since then,” the Court stated.
The matter is set to be heard again on October 23.
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