Even as malls, markets have opened completely in Delhi, only one weekly market can open in one municipal zone on a single day, says Delhi Government.
The Delhi High Court on Monday (August 2, 2021) directed the Delhi government to reply to a petition seeking resumption of all weekly markets in the city, with all precautions and Covid-19 appropriate behaviour in place, or provide financial compensation to street vendors. The petition was filed by the Saptahik Patri Bazar Association.
The petitioner has sought either to resume the weekly market services with precaution or to give a financial aid of Rs. 15,000 per month to each vendor who organise street market, within the jurisdiction of the respondent.
Justice Rekha Palli asked the Delhi government to file a reply to the petition filed by the association. The court listed the matter for August 17. Appearing for the petitioner, Lawyer Rajat Wadhwa and Kartik Kumar Aggarwal requested to quash the order dated June 13, 2021, and all subsequent orders of the Delhi Disaster Management Committee against weekly markets.
The petitioner sought to resume all 'Weekly Markets' in all zones of Delhi with all precautions and Covid appropriate behaviour at their old designated places.
The plea read, “The petitioner association is aggrieved by the inaction of Respondent, who despite directions of this Court contained in Order dated June 03, 2021, have failed to take any decision on the representation dated May 19,2021, which had sought to either complete resumption of weekly market or in the alternative financial assistance for the poor street vendors.”
According to the petition, Respondent Delhi government, despite having opened all markets, malls, and other commercial complexes in Delhi, has discriminated against the petitioner by ordering that they shall only organize one weekly market per week per zone. The petition stated that such directions are discriminatory, arbitrary, whimsical and made without application of mind.
