Indian Express 29.09.2010
Mount Mary Fair: HC asks residents to approach civic official over restraining hawkers
Mount Mary Fair: HC asks residents to approach civic official over restraining hawkers
While disposing of a petition filed by Bandra residents seeking to restrain hawkers from setting up stalls on footpaths and roads during the Mount Mary Fair, the Bombay HC Tuesday directed the petitioners to meet the deputy municipal commissioner of Zone III and formulate a strategy. The court said the strategy should strike a balance between the religious sentiments and inconvenience caused to local residents during the fair.
A division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice RV More was hearing the petition filed by 250 Bandra residents. Justice Desai said, “In a matter where religious sentiments are involved and the inconvenience caused to residents have to be taken into account, the ourt has to strike a balance.” Petitioners’ counsel Pooja Thorat told the court SC had framed guidelines demarcating hawking and non-hawking zones.
The PIL contended that as per the committee set up by the SC, the entire area surrounding the Mount Mary Church falls in non-hawking zone. IN view of the committee’s decision, the PIL questioned the corporation’s authority to permit hawkers in the no-hawking zone. The HC has asked the BMC to keep the guidelines issued by the SC in mind while working out the strategy. Two different types of applications were made before the court — one supporting the petition, and the other opposing it. The court has asked the deputy municipal commissioner to hear them as well.
