Lucknow: Granting interim relief to shopkeepers and kiosk owners facing possible eviction and demolition in Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Friday directed authorities not to take any coercive action against them until the next hearing on Sept 28.A bench of Justice Shekhar B Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary passed the order while hearing a writ petition filed by Devi Prasad Awasthi and 15 others.The petitioners, who operate shops and kiosks behind the office of the Gram Evam Nagar Niyojan Vibhag and Viraj Towers, sought directions restraining authorities from evicting or dispossessing them and from dismantling or demolishing their establishments.They also sought directions to Lucknow Municipal Corporation and the town vending committee to conduct a statutory survey under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, issue certificates of vending and formulate a lawful vending/rehabilitation plan.During the hearing, counsel for Lucknow Development Authority said he did not have specific instructions as to whether the drive in the area was being carried out by LDA. He, however, informed the court that instructions had been sought and would be available at the earliest.The petitioners have submitted that they had been carrying out vending in the area for more than 10 years and are therefore entitled to protection under the Street Vendors Act, 2014. The submission was opposed by counsel appearing for LDA and Lucknow Municipal Corporation.Taking note of the urgency of the matter, the court directed the authorities not to take any coercive action against the petitioners until the next date of listing.
