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Bombay High Court

VINOD PREMSINGH SONARversusTHE BRIHNMUMBAI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION THRU ASST. MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER, E-WARD BMC

Decided
Disposal
DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The Court did not decide the substantive issues but ordered the competent authority to examine the petitioner's grievance under the Street Vendors Act and provide a hearing within three months.

Summary

The petitioner, Vinod Premsingh Sonar, a certified disabled street vendor, challenged a notice dated 28 June 2024 and a demolition order dated 21 March 2025 issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation that resulted in the destruction of his vending stall. He sought quashing of the notice and order, permission to reconstruct his stall or be allotted an equivalent site, and issuance of a vending certificate under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. Relying on Rule 3(2)(b) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 and Sections 17 and the proviso to 22(2)(d) of the Street Vendors Act, he argued that the demolition was discriminatory and contrary to statutory protection. The respondents contended that the petitioner was not a registered vendor and that the Act is self‑contained, therefore no relief was warranted. The Court declined to adjudicate the merits, directing the competent authority/Town Vending Committee to consider the grievance, afford a hearing, and decide within three months, subject to any legal impediment. Consequently, the writ petition was disposed without a substantive ruling on the merits.

Issues considered

  • Whether the demolition of the petitioner's vending stall, effected through the notice and order, violates the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017.
  • Whether the petitioner, as a disabled street vendor, is entitled to protection and relief under Sections 17 and 22(2)(d) of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
  • Whether the lack of registration of the petitioner as a street vendor bars the claim for relief under the Street Vendors Act.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • disability rights
  • street vending
  • municipal demolition
  • writ petition
  • Section 17
  • Section 22
  • Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules
  • relief

Judgment

                                                                                            903.WP.2815.2026.doc
        Digitally
        signed by
        ANANT
ANANT   KRISHNA
KRISHNA NAIK
NAIK    Date:
                                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
        2026.09.30
        11:12:17
        +0530                         ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION

                                             WRIT PETITION NO. 2815 OF 2026

                     Vinod Premsingh Sonar                                            ...Petitioner
                           Versus
                     The Brihnmumbai Municipal Corporation & Ors.                    ...Respondents

                     Mr. Somnath Iyer for the Petitioner.
                     Ms K. H. Mastkar for the Respondent Nos. 1 and 2-BMC
                     Ms Rita Joshi, AGP (Through VC) for the Respondent No. 3-State.


                                           CORAM : MAHESH CHANDRA TRIPATHI, CJ. &
                                                   ADVAIT M. SETHNA, J.

                                           DATE      : 29th SEPTEMBER, 2026.

                     P.C.:


                     1.      Heard learned Counsel for the Petitioner and learned Counsel for the

                     Respondents.


                     2.      The instant Writ Petition is preferred for the following substantive reliefs:


                             (A) Quash and set aside the impugned notice dated 28.06.2024
                             (Exh-F) the impugned order dated 21.03.2025 (Exh-H) and the
                             consequential demolition action carried out by the Respondents;
                             (B) Direct the Respondents to permit the Petitioner to reconstruct
                             and resume his vending stall at the original site, or in the alternative,
                             allot an equivalent vending site in the same or nearby area;
                             (C) Direct the Respondents to consider the Petitioner for issuance of
                             a vending certificate or allotment of a vending site in accordance with
                             the provisions of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and
                             Regulation of Street Vending Act, 2014);


                     3.      At the outset, learned Counsel for Petitioner has placed reliance on Rule

                     3(2)(b) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 (for short “the



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Disability Rules, 2017) which provides that no person with disability shall be

discriminated on the ground of disability, unless it is shown that the impugned act

or omission is a proportional means of achieving a legitimate aim. He submits that

it is an admitted case that the Petitioner is suffering from a disability and

accordingly he has relied upon the Certificate of Disability. He submits that

initially the impugned Notice dated 28th June, 2024 has been passed in arbitrary

manner and later on in response to the said Impugned Notice an Order dated 21 st

March, 2025 was passed. This, in spite of the fact that the Petitioner was having

the disability, he was dispossessed and his shop was demolished.


4.      Learned Counsel for the Petitioner heavily relied upon Section 17 of the

Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act,

2014 (for short “the Street Vendors Act of 2014”) which mandate the Respondent-

Authority to relocate or eviction of a street vendors. He submits that once he is

having the disability and the Respondents have already carried out the demolition

of his shop, it is incumbent upon the Respondent-Authority to ensure some

appropriate place be provided under the provisions of the Street Vendors Act of

2014.


5.      Learned Counsel for the Petitioner has also placed reliance on the proviso to

Section 22(2)(d) of the Street Vendors Act of 2014, which provides that due

representation shall be given to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other

Backward Classes, minorities and persons with disabilities from amongst the

members representing street vendors.




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                                                                    903.WP.2815.2026.doc


6.     Per contra, learned Counsel for Respondents resisted the reliefs and submits

that the Street Vendors Act of 2014 itself is a self contained Act. Nothing is

brought on record to indicate that the Petitioner was registered as a street vendor

and no such survey has been carried out to indicate the Petitioner was actually

doing business at the roadside. However, she fairly submits that in case there is any

policy and vending zone is already been earmarked, in that event, the case of the

Petitioner shall be considered in accordance with law.


7.     Considering the factual situation as emerged before us, we expect the

Competent Authority/Town Vending Committee under the Street Vendors Act of

2014 may consider the grievance of the Petitioner, examine the same to be

remedied in accordance with law, preferably within a period of three months from

the date of production of a certified copy of this Order, in case there is no other

legal impediment, certainly after giving sufficient opportunity of hearing to all

stakeholders.


8.     With the aforesaid direction, the Writ Petition is Disposed Of.


9.     Needless to state, we have not adverted to the merits of the matter and all

contentions of the parties are kept open.




          [ADVAIT M. SETHNA, J.]                         [CHIEF JUSTICE]




AKN                                    3


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