Can’t let weekly markets turn into ‘security nightmare’: HC

New Delhi: Delhi High Court has observed that weekly markets operating in various parts of the city should be well regulated and cannot become a “security nightmare”.

It has sought the stand of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on a plea by a resident of Uttam Nagar in west Delhi seeking closure of one such market in his locality on the ground that it “creates nuisance” and blocks the road to his house completely.

“In the opinion of this court, the contrast is stark. Weekly bazaars cannot be converted into a safety and security nightmare for residents. The same ought to be regulated both in terms of number of vendors and the space occupied by them,” a bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain observed in a recent order.

HC was surprised to see from photos placed by the petitioner that on regular days, Som Bazar Road didn’t have much traffic and appeared easily accessible, but the day the weekly market was held, it had no space for vehicles and pedestrians to move, creating a traffic snarl.

Ved Prakash, the petitioner, said he had to move court under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking removal of the market which springs up every Monday. There is extensive encroachment by the vendors, he said, and sought the court’s intervention.

HC issued notice to the corporation, seeking a status report indicating what action it proposes to take on the matter. The corporation submitted that Delhi govt is preparing a plan regarding all such bazaars and it will be placed on record along with a status report in respect of the market in Uttam Nagar.

The court gave MCD two weeks’ time to submit its stand and posted the case for Aug 6.