Tongawallahs’ petition against MCD phaseout in court today

The MCD has directed all tongawallahs in the city to sell off their horses across the state border and choose an alternate trade.

While the HC has fixed July 14 as the date for hearing the writ petition filed by the tongawallahs, the latter have filed another application seeking an interim stay on the MCD order after the civic agency issued fresh orders this week, asking them to shut shop. The application is likely to be taken up in the High Court on Wednesday.

The tongawallahs have also written to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, seeking her intervention in the matter.

The MCD, in an informal meeting with the tongawallhas on Monday, directed them to “voluntarily” shift out within a week, warning that it will otherwise have to use force.

The 150-odd tongawallahs in the Walled City had been granted licence to ply in the area till May 31. As per the MCD’s decision, they now have to shift to the newly allotted tehbazari site in Shashtri Park in East Delhi, or to take up a different trade. The tongawallahs are, however, refusing to shift claiming that the agency has gone back on its words.

The MCD had promised to allot 6X4 plots and create concrete tehbazari sites, equipped with public amenities, for around 132 licensed tongawallahs of Old Delhi. It had also promised to partly finance three-wheelers for tongawallahs who own two or more tongas. 

In place of concrete tehbazari stalls, however, a concrete pavement-like structure has been constructed alongside the main GT road near the Shashtri Park Metro line, and tongawallahs have been told to construct whatever else they require at their own expense.