Belated Claims for Street Vending Inclusion Based on Prior Challans Subject to Future Survey and Capacity

The Petitioner, a street vendor operating at Rao Tula Ram Marg, Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) area, sought inclusion in the list of eligible street vendors

He claimed to possess three challans issued prior to the commencement of the official survey on October 27, 2023, which he argued qualified him for inclusion under the Town Vending Committee’s (TVC) policy

On May 8, 2026, the Petitioner submitted a representation to the TVC for survey and inclusion, but was excluded from the finalized list

Historically, the DCB had passed Resolution No. 3 on January 27, 2026, setting the "three-challan" criteria for eligibility

1. Whether the Petitioner is entitled to a direction for inclusion in the list of authorized street vendors based on the "three-challan" policy after the survey has been concluded.

2. Whether the Petitioner's representation for inclusion can be considered at a belated stage.

The Court applied the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, and the Delhi Street Vendors Scheme, 2019

It specifically relied on the DCB TVC Resolution No. 3 dated January 27, 2026, which established that vendors who produce at least three challans issued by the DCB prior to October 27, 2023, shall be considered for inclusion, subject to holding capacity

The Court also followed the precedent set in Gyan Chand v. Delhi Cantonment Board [W.P.(C) 17785/2025] and Dinesh v. Delhi Cantonment Board [W.P.(C) 7270/2026], which upheld the validity of the three-challan criteria and the finality of the survey process

The Court observed that the TVC had already undertaken an extensive scrutiny of challans and finalized the list of authorized vendors based on the policy decision of January 2026

While the Petitioner claimed to meet the criteria, the Court found that the survey for the Delhi Cantonment Board had already been completed and a list of authorized vendors drawn up

The Court reasoned that the Petitioner approached the judiciary "extremely belatedly," and reopening the survey at this advanced stage would be procedurally disruptive

However, acknowledging the Petitioner's claim of possessing the requisite challans, the Court noted that if excess capacity remains after the TVC finalizes the vending plan, such belated claims could be considered in the subsequent survey phase

However, it directed the TVC to consider and dispose of the Petitioner’s representation dated May 8, 2026, in accordance with the law and the minutes of the meeting dated January 15, 2026

The Petitioner’s case may be considered during the next survey or if excess capacity becomes available after the finalization of the vending plan. The petition was disposed of with these directions