Delhi High Court Declares Nehru Place a ‘No-Hawking Zone’, Orders Relocation of Authorized Vendors

The Delhi High Court has declared the Nehru Place District Centre a “No-hawking zone” and “No-vending zone,” ordering the immediate relocation of 90 authorized vendors and paving the way for the removal of all unauthorized hawkers. The ruling, delivered by a Division Bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Dinesh Bhatt, aims to resolve years of litigation and severe safety hazards caused by unchecked encroachment in the commercial hub.

The controversy surrounding vendors at Nehru Place spans several years and multiple legal battles. While a 2009 Division Bench judgment initially permitted 67 vendors to operate under a pilot project, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) subsequently evaluated the situation and declared the area a no-hawking zone. This stance was repeatedly upheld by the Delhi High Court in 2017 and 2018, and challenges by vendor organizations were ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court in January 2022. The severe congestion eventually created a significant public safety risk, prompting the High Court to take suo moto cognizance in August 2021 following a fire incident at Nehru Place where pavements were entirely occupied by hawkers. A subsequent mock drill by the Delhi Fire Service revealed that fire engines and ambulances could not reach the lower plaza due to barricades, heavy pedestrian traffic, and hawkers, leading the fire department to strongly recommend making the area a hawker-free zone to maintain a minimum 6-meter-wide motorable path for emergency units.

Despite the clear designation as a no-vending zone, over 400 vendors currently operate in the district centre, with only 90 holding recognized or protected status. Citing a recent Supreme Court decision that requires authorities to actively support the transition of displaced vendors to designated zones to protect their livelihoods, the High Court outlined an interim relocation plan. The 90 recognized vendors—whose names and details are listed in the court’s annexure—are permitted to continue operating temporarily, provided they relocate to a specific demarcated area labeled “Site X” on the provided map by October 12, 2026. Following this deadline, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is authorized and directed to take action to clear all unauthorized vendors from the rest of the Nehru Place District Centre.

The relocation to Site X serves strictly as an interim measure until the newly constituted Town Vending Committee (TVC-II) makes a final decision within two months regarding whether these 90 vendors are entitled to permanent Certificates of Vending and determines their final designated locations. Once the MCD clears the unauthorized encroachments, the Delhi Fire Service is directed to conduct a fresh inspection of the district centre and file a compliance report by November 30, 2026. Any additional vendors who claim protection under earlier Supreme Court affidavits but are not included in the primary list are permitted to submit representations to the Assistant Commissioner of the MCD, which will be considered in accordance with the law, with the Delhi Police ordered to provide full cooperation to the MCD and DDA to enforce these mandates.