THE HIGH COURT SAYS - NO STREET VENDING WITHOUT PERMISSION

Street vendors will not be allowed from December 1 without a certificate and identification card

Kochi: 17^th Nov 2021- From December 1, the High Court has banned the sale of street vendors within the limits of the Corporation. The process of issuing certificates and identity cards to the street vendors found to be eligible by the Corporation's Town Vending Committee must be completed within 30 days. The Collector and the City Police Commissioner voluntarily joined the case to enforce the order prohibiting illegal trade. The order was issued by Justice A.K Jayashankaran Nambiar, after considering petitions to stop illegal street vending and petitions filed by traders to protect their livelihood. Those operating without a permit must apply to the Town Vending Committee for a certificate and card. The committee should take a decision within a month of receiving the application. However, such persons should not be allowed to trade until they have obtained the certificate and card. The case will be considered again on December 3. The corporation informed that out of 876 persons who were found eligible in the first phase, 700 were issued identity cards. The search for the remaining 176 is ongoing. Of the 927 applications received in the next batch, 398 were found to be eligible and recommended to the Town Vending Committee. The matter will be taken up at the 19th meeting of the committee.

                                                                                           INPUTS BY – ANJANA Y U ON 3 december 2021