India, April 29 -- The Bombay High Court on Tuesday rapped the police over its failure to remove illegal hawkers from across the city, clarifying that they cannot claim "lack of power to act" on the issue. A division bench of justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata also termed the government resolution (GR) issued earlier this month, fixing the deadline for finalisation of the street vending policy at six months, as "mere eye wash" and "lip service" in the absence of concrete enforcement.

Questioning the state authorities and the civic body over their continuous failure to implement the street vending policy and ensure that streets in the city are free of illegal hawkers, the court said, "Imagine, the state has to be told about their power...