India, Sept. 22 -- The Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed a contempt petition filed by residents of Kamathipura against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for allegedly failing to act against illegal hawkers in the area despite earlier court directions.

BMC can take action, as per the directions issued by the court, only after following due process, said the court. Even if a person illegally comes into possession of a piece of land, he acquires certain civil rights in law. "He can't be summarily removed without following due process in law. Having regard to this, we are not inclined to entertain this contempt petition," the division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad said.

On December 21, ...