Palika Bazar Shopkeepers Welfare Association And Ors vs Govt. Of Nct Of Delhi

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* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
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Date of decision: 6 November, 2026
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Uploaded on: 10 November, 2026
# CNR No. DLHC010000762026
+ W.P.(C) 151/2026
PALIKA BAZAR SHOPKEEPERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION
AND ORS .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Sanjeev Ralli, Sr. Adv. with Mr.
Mohit Mudgal, Adv.
versus
GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent
Through: Mr. Sriharsha Peechara Standing
Counsel for NDMC, Mr. Soumit
Ganguli, Ms, Ravicha Sharma and Mr.
Akash Sharma Advs.
Ms. Vaishali Gupta (Panel Counsel
(Civil) GNCTD), Mr. Manas Parashar,
Mr. Ravi Karhana and Mr. Daman
Sharma, Advs. (M: 8826441862)
CORAM:
JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
JUSTICE DINESH BHATT
Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral)
1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.
CM APPL. 78252/2026 in W.P.(C) 151/2026
2. The present application has been filed by the Petitioners under Section
151 of Civil Procedure Code, 1908 seeking directions to the New Delhi
Municipal Council (hereinafter ‘ NDMC ’) to give a hearing opportunity to the
Petitioners before finalising the vending plan.
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:RAHUL
Signing Date:10.11.2026
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W.P.(C) 151/2026 Page 1 of 5

3. The Court has heard the ld. Sr. Counsel for the Petitioners as also the
counsel for the NDMC and the Delhi Government.
4. It is the submission of Mr. Ralli, ld. Sr. Counsel for the Petitioners that
even previously, this Court had already given an opportunity to the Petitioners
to make submissions before the Joint Secretary, Urban Development,
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Government of NCT of Delhi vide order dated 5 February, 2026 where it
was directed as under:
“22. However, in order to ensure that all the parties
who are effected, i.e., shopkeepers and the vendors are
able to place their stand before the appropriate forum,
it is deemed appropriate to direct that the
representatives of these two stakeholder groups may be
permitted to appear before the Competent Authority so
that their objections can be considered while fixing of
norms and before taking a decision in this matter.
23. For this purpose, it is directed that five
representatives of the shopkeepers and five
representatives of the vendors would be permitted to
appear before a Committee considering the Town
Vending Plan. Mr. Rajesh Choudhary, Joint Secretary,
Department of Urban Development, Government of
NCT of Delhi, shall fix a meeting between the
Committee and the stakeholders wherein the
shopkeepers and the vendors shall be heard and
thereafter, a decision shall be taken. Mr. Vikram Kumar
Yadav, Joint Director Enforcement, NDMC who is
present in Court today shall coordinate with the
shopkeepers and vendors associations to identify the
representatives who would attend the said meeting. Ld.
Counsel are free to contact Mr. Yadav and give the
names of their respective clients.
24. In this said meeting, both the stakeholders’
groups are permitted to give written and oral
submissions so that all the issues can be fully heard and
considered and the norms can be fixed accordingly. The
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:RAHUL
Signing Date:10.11.2026
20:58:44
W.P.(C) 151/2026 Page 2 of 5

concerned officials from the NDMC shall also be
present in the said meeting.
25. The meeting shall be held between the
stakeholders and the Committee considering the Town
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Vending Plan on 24 February, 2026 at 11:30 A.M. in
the office of Mr. Rajesh Choudhary, Joint Secretary,
Department of Urban Development, Government of
NCT of Delhi Department of Urban Development,
Government of NCT of Delhi. Mr. Choudhary is free to
call any other department officials who may be required
for the said interaction. If the views of any other
stakeholders are to be considered, Mr. Choudhary shall
do the needful for hearing them.
26. After the hearing, decision shall be taken by
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the Competent Authority by 30 April, 2026 in respect
of the Town Vending Plan submitted by the NDMC and
the norms shall also be fixed in terms of Section 21(2).”
5. Subsequently, meetings were also directed to be held with the Chief
Secretary, GNCTD.
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6. On 27 July, 2026 the Chief Secretary, GNCTD had joined the
proceedings online and stated that the vending plan has now been sent back
to NDMC with various concerns.
7. The Court has repeatedly observed that in the finalising of the vending
plan, under Section 21 of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and
Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, the final decision is that of the Delhi
Government.
8. The NDMC being the local authority, can only submit the vending plan
from its side to the Delhi Government and it is the obligation of the Delhi
Government to finally approve the vending plan with whatever changes it
deems appropriate.
9. However, there appears to have been a reluctance by the Delhi
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:RAHUL
Signing Date:10.11.2026
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W.P.(C) 151/2026 Page 3 of 5

Government to make any corrections in the vending plan despite the
opportunity having been given by the Court to the Delhi Government to hear
the traders and approve the vending plan accordingly.
10. The submissions of Ms. Gupta ld. Counsel for GNTCD and Mr.
Peechara, ld. Counsel for NDMC reveal to the Court that the concern of Delhi
Government is that the local authority would be the suitable body to take a
decision on the comments, etc., or objections raised by the traders as also the
vendors.
11. Under these circumstances, this Court is left with no other option but
to pass the following directions to be followed by the authorities and the
GNCTD in the chronology as is being directed:
i. The Delhi Traffic Police has already given its comments to the
NDMC.
ii. The NDMC has now substantially completed its survey of all the
old Tehbazari holders.
iii. For finalising of the vending plan, in W.P.(C) 19705/2025 time
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has been granted to the NDMC till 26 November, 2026.
Accordingly, let the NDMC finalise the vending plan for its
entire area of all vendors and old Tehbazari holders.
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iv. After finalising of the vending plan, on 8 December, 2026 ,
vendors, traders and shopkeepers, etc., would be heard by
NDMC as also the Joint Secretary, Department of Urban
Development, GNCTD. The meeting shall take place in the
Department of Urban Development, GNCTD and the same shall
be notified to Mr. Mudgal, ld. Counsel for the Petitioner.
v. It is made clear that from each of the associations, only two
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Signed By:RAHUL
Signing Date:10.11.2026
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W.P.(C) 151/2026 Page 4 of 5

representatives and one counsel shall attend the meeting and
shall permit the meeting to go in a peaceful manner and not cause
any disturbance.
vi. After hearing the concerned stakeholders, if any changes are to
be made into the vending plan, the same shall be carried out by
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the NDMC and shall be finally submitted by 10 January, 2026
to the Delhi Government.
vii. The Delhi Government shall then take its decision in terms of
Section 21 of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and
Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 for finalisation of the
vending plan along with the norms applicable to street vendors.
12. Considering the large number of vendors, shopkeepers, etc., whose
interests are involved in this case, no further delay shall be caused by the
NDMC or the GNCTD.
13. The Chief Secretary, GNCTD shall ensure that the vending plan is
looked into and approved at the earliest.
14. Accordingly, the application is disposed of.
W.P.(C) 151/2026
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15. List on 26 November, 2026 i.e., the date already fixed.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH
JUDGE
DINESH BHATT
JDUGE
NOVEMBER 6, 2026
dj/as
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:RAHUL
Signing Date:10.11.2026
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W.P.(C) 151/2026 Page 5 of 5