Gujarat High Court Denies Relief to Ahmedabad Food Vendors

Ahmedabad, Gujarat — In a major setback to food stall vendors operating near HL College and CEPT University in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat High Court has denied them interim relief in their plea challenging the removal of their stalls by the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The court’s decision has sparked concerns over the livelihoods of dozens of small vendors even as city authorities push forward with their anti-encroachment drive.

Justice Niral R Mehta, presiding over the matter, refused to intervene at this stage, upholding the AMC’s argument that the stalls contribute significantly to traffic congestion and illegal encroachment in one of the busiest stretches of the city — the 60-foot-wide road near Commerce Six Roads.

“The footpaths and public roads are for pedestrians and smooth flow of traffic, not for cooking and vending,” an AMC official submitted in court. “These stalls not only block footpaths but also cause chaotic roadside parking, severely hampering traffic.”

The municipal body further pointed to the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, which strictly prohibits cooking on public streets. AMC maintained that these food vendors are in clear violation of this law and thus cannot be allowed to continue operations in the disputed location.

“We are not against vendors making a living,” the AMC lawyer clarified, “but it cannot come at the cost of public inconvenience and traffic hazards.”

The petitioners, however, argue that they have been operating in the area for years and have become an integral part of the local ecosystem. They insisted that eviction without a viable rehabilitation plan is both unjust and inhumane.

“We serve hundreds of students and office-goers every day,” said a vendor, requesting anonymity. “Instead of relocating us to a designated vending zone, they are simply throwing us out. Where will we go?”

Despite these emotional appeals, the court sided with AMC’s rationale, stating that public interest must take precedence. It also acknowledged AMC’s broader initiative to remove illegal encroachments across Ahmedabad to improve urban infrastructure and streamline traffic.

The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for later this month and has instructed the food vendors not to place their stalls in the area until a final decision is made.

This ruling may set a precedent for similar disputes in Ahmedabad and other urban centres grappling with the challenges of balancing street vending with traffic and urban planning.