The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam before which the PIL filed by 'Traffic' Ramaswamy came up directed them to take necessary action and ensure the area is cleared of all encroachments and maintained as no hawking zone area.
Ramaswamy referred to the report of Justice Ramamoorthy, Chairman of Hawkers Committee, in which it was mentioned that the Apex Court had already declared the road as no hawking zone and said despite it,Police and Corporation officials had not taken any steps to do so.
The bench after perusing the PIL said it agreed with his submission that there was no question of any hawking in that area, especially when earlier hawkers had been rehabilitated.
Earlier, Ramasamy referred to a similar menace on the same stretch and the Apex Court orders governing the matter.
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He submitted that the process of re-occupyig the pavements has begun and unless it was nipped in the bud, "we will have the same situation that existed prior to rehabilitation of the hawkers," he said furnishing photographs as well.
To ensure that the orders are complied with in letter and spirit, the judges asked the corporation to depute officers to the area so that the menace does not recur.
The civic body must furnish photographic proof, the bench said.
Noting that it is the Corporation's duty to monitor the area,the judges said it should not have made Ramasamy approach the court for relief. "Be that as it may, at least now the authorities must wakeup to the situation," they said.