Kolkata, July 9 -- The Calcutta High Court refused to grant any interim relief to hawkers of the century-old Manglahat in Howrah from police action.
The Howrah Hawkers' Samity have prayed for an order restraining the police from evicting them and interfering with their businesses.
Refusing any interim order restraining the police, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya on Wednesday said that the hawkers' association could not prima facie satisfy the court regarding their right to earn livelihoods by hawking wares while blocking roads and pavements.
The court observed that the issue needs consideration upon the exchange of affidavits, and directed the respondent authorities to file their affidavits in opposition to the petitioner's contention within the next two weeks.
Petitioner's lawyer Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya stated that while certain restrictions can be imposed on the marketplace, the hawkers cannot be evicted entirely in view of the Hawkers' Vending Act.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.