"Don't harass tea-sellers on Dal Lake", Jammu & Kashmir HC to land conservation authority [Read Order]

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has asked the Jammu and Kashmir Land Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) not to unnecessarily harass tea sellers at the famous floating market on Dal Lake in Srinagar.

A division bench of Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal ordered that the authorities could verify the validity of the license and proceed as per law, however, that no genuine lawful vendors should be harassed.

The bench wrote, "The respondents-authority would be at liberty to verify the validity or genuineness of the license, if any and to proceed in the matter in accordance with law and if petitioners are found running the business without any valid license or documents, the concerned authority shall be free to proceed in accordance with law," the order stated, on a plea by one of the tea sellers at the market - the Zabarwan Tea Stall.

Zabarwan Tea Stall claimed to have been harassed by the LCMA despite conducting its business lawfully, i.e. with valid licenses.

They stated that LCMA officials frequent the tea stall and harass them, willfully hindering the smooth running of their business, despite their production of licenses.

In this regard, the Court said, "We see no reason why any impediment be created to any person, who is running business after obtaining necessary license."

The tea stall had filed the petition through its partners, who were running a business of selling tea in the floating market of Dal Lake, Boulevard, Srinagar after obtaining necessary license from the Authority.

Advocate Sajid Ahmad Bhat appeared on behalf of the petitioners.

Advocates Illyas Nazir and Syed Muzaib appeared on behalf of the LCMA.

Cause Title: M/s Zabarwan Tea Stall v. Vice Chairman, J&K LCMA 

[Read Order]