India, March 24 -- The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police to conduct a thorough verification of all hawkers and their helpers across Mumbai, including those "alleged to be illegal immigrants".

A division bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata said the exercise must cover all temporary and permanent stalls in the city. The court noted that illegal immigrants were allegedly involved in unauthorised hawking, creating issues for local hawkers, and directed police to take appropriate action, including deportation proceedings where necessary.

"The BMC and the police shall immediately undertake a thorough verification to identify all individuals, including those alleged to be Ba...