High Court stays order on eviction of hawkers in Sector V

Kolkata: The state government on Monday informed the Calcutta High Court that hawkers in Salt Lake Sector V area will be relocated elsewhere only after the state has a hawker policy in place. Soon after hearing the state's stand, the High Court stayed the process of evicting the hawkers encroaching upon the bus route of Sector V till August 30.

The stay of Justice Debangshu Basak came in the wake of the Salt Lake Sector V Hawkers' Welfare Association, moving the high court against the eviction order.

The next hearing in this regard will be held on August 23. The counsel appearing on behalf of the state claimed that the government is absolutely against forcible eviction and wants proper rehabilitation of the hawkers.

Hawkers in Salt Lake Sector V were taken to two plots of land in the area on Saturday where the Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority plans to relocate them. It may be mentioned that police wants the hawkers on Ring Road, the stretch from the SDF intersection in GN Block to Technopolis building to be vacated for smooth traffic movement.

It may be mentioned that hawkers in Sector V had demonstrated by keeping their shops closed on Friday to protest the order asking them to clear three main thoroughfares or face eviction.

They also allegedly prevented several delivery persons of app-based food delivery services on their way to offices in Sector V.