The Indian Express                   12.03.2013

BMC to hold special meeting to discuss Bill

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss reservations expressed with respect to the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill.

This was after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporator Sandeep Deshpande Monday expressed opposition to the policy, claiming that it will lead to an increase in the number of migrants from different parts of the country.

The MNS Monday sent a request to mayor Sunil Prabhu, asking for a special session to discuss the matter. The party has questioned the setting up of a homogeneous policy for hawking throughout the country.

However, the Congress, NCP and Samajwadi Party have supported the bill and demanded its implementation.

According to the norms laid down in the bill, local governing bodies are to issue hawking licences to 2.5 per cent of the city's population.

Lawyer says dissuaded from appearing in court

A city-based lawyer has filed a police complaint claiming that he was threatened and dissuaded from attending court proceedings due to a strike called by the Bar Council of India (BCI).

The lawyer, Yashodhan Gavhankar, had appeared for a civil proceeding at the Andheri magistrate court. However, according to him, other lawyers threatened and physically assaulted him, telling him not to appear in court. He has now registered a non-cognisable complaint with the Andheri police station.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Gavhankar said he will also file a complaint with the BCI on the issue. "A call for strike by the BCI cannot be treated as a mandatory rule. As a lawyer, it is my duty to serve my client."

The BCI had called for a day-long all-India strike Monday to condemn attacks on lawyers in Jaipur and Chandigarh. The lawyers had put forward a set of 14 demands related to their welfare and professional rights.