V.Lakshmi v. The Commissioner

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 10.09.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SURESH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA and W.M.P.No.19686 of 2025 V.Lakshmi ...

Petitioner -Vs1. The Commissioner / The Chairperson of Town Vending Committee, Greater Chennai Corporation, Ripon Buildings, No.1131, EVR Periyar Salai, Chennai - 600 003.

2. The Regional Deputy Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, No.6, Basin Bridge Salai, Chennai - 600 021.

3. The Zonal Officer, Greater Chennai Corporation, Zone-V, No.61, Basin Bridge Salai, Chennai - 600 021.

...

Respondents 1/6

PRAYER : Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of writ of mandamus, directing the respondents to issue certificate of vending and Identity Card with chip, QR Code and web link address to the petitioner to carry on her vending activities on the pavement of Poonamalle High Road, near Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital compound, Chennai - 600 002 by taking into consideration of her representations dated 26.03.2025 and 24.04.2025.

For Petitioner :

Ms.K.Lavan For Respondents :

Mr.D.B.R.Prabhu Standing Counsel

O R D E R

(Order of the Court was made by R.SURESH KUMAR, J.) The prayer sought for in this writ petition is for a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to issue certificate of Vending and Identity Card with chip, QR Code and web link address to the petitioner to carry on her vending activities on the pavement of Poonamalle High Road, near Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital compound, Chennai - 600 002 by taking into consideration of her representations dated 26.03.2025 and 24.04.2025.

2. Heard Ms.Lavan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.D.B.R.Prabhu, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents. 2/6

3. The petitioner wants to run a street vending business on pavement at Poonamalle High Road, near Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital compound, Chennai - 600 002 and in order to get such permission, she has given representations on 26.03.2025 and 24.04.2025, to consider the same, the present writ petition has been filed.

4. As per the norms, within 100 meters from the hospital / educational institution / temple, such street vending business cannot be permitted.

5. In that view of the matter, since admittedly the permission has been sought for only just adjacent to the compound of Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, i.e., Madras Medical College, such permission cannot be directed to be given under the provisions of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, therefore, this writ petition is liable to be dismissed, accordingly, it is dismissed.

6. However, the dismissal of the writ petition would not preclude the petitioner from identifying any suitable place for having the street vending business of her in any Vending Zone in the Chennai Corporation limit and after identifying the same, necessary application in the prescribed format can be filed 3/6

before the Chennai Corporation and in such case, the same can be considered and decided by the Chennai Corporation / Town Vending Committee at the earliest in the manner known to law. However, there shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. (R.S.K., J.) (A.D.J.C., J.) 10.09.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Speaking Order : Yes / No vji 4/6

To

1. The Commissioner / The Chairperson of Town Vending Committee, Greater Chennai Corporation, Ripon Buildings, No.1131, EVR Periyar Salai, Chennai - 600 003.

2. The Regional Deputy Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, No.6, Basin Bridge Salai, Chennai - 600 021.

3. The Zonal Officer, Greater Chennai Corporation, Zone-V, No.61, Basin Bridge Salai, Chennai - 600 021.

5/6

R.SURESH KUMAR, J.

and A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.

vji and W.M.P.No.19686 of 2025 10.09.2025 6/6