Steps have been taken to remove all temporary shops on pavements, the
Chennai Corporation informed Madras High Court on Thursday.

In a
counter filed before the first bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice R K
Agrawal and Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar, in response to a public
interest writ petition from activist ‘Traffic’ K R Ramaswamy, the
Corporation said differently-abled people had also been instructed to
remove their shops by their own arrangements, failing which, the
Corporation would take action. This operation would take at least four
months, the Corporation said.

“In view of the statement, we
dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the Corporation to
comply with the said submission in accordance with law within four
months,” the bench said.

The counter said following the directions
of the High Court on earlier occasions, the Corporation had constituted
a committee, based on whose recommendations, the Corporation
Commissioner had held that bunk shops were permanent encroachments in
public places, which hindered the movement of public and traffic.

Therefore,
it could not be permitted at the present locations. The Commissioner
had also said preference would be given to bunk shop owners when the
corporation allocates shops.

He said during the action process,
they would be permitted to participate for a maximum of three times
without a security deposit, other conditions remaining the same. The
differently-abled bunk shop owners could avail reservations in getting
allotment as per the existing rules in force, the Commissioner added.