Bandra fair: Bombay high court bats for poor vendors

The Bombay high court on Tuesday suggested to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to show preference to the poor candle stall owners, who put up stalls during the Bandra fair and earn a meager amount.

The high court has asked the corporation to place before it a plan formulated to manage hawkers during the Mount Mary Fair.

Division bench of Justice PB Majmudar and Justice RM Sawant were hearing an application filed by few local residents challenging the corporation’s decision to auction the 170 stalls that would be put up during the Mount Mary Fair at Bandra.

 “Several local residents, who are from the lower strata of the society put up stalls to sell candles during the fair and earn their livelihood. But now they cannot do so as the civic body has decided to auction the stalls,” the petitioners argued.

The BMC told the court that as per last year’s high court order, a draft proposal to manage hawkers is prepared by the deputy municipal commissioner which is pending for approval before the municipal commissioner.

The proposal has made some provisions for accommodating locals who have been putting up their stalls for years. 
Accordingly the bench directed the corporation to tender its proposal before it on Monday. The fair will start on September 11.