Shillong – In a significant move aimed at resolving the contentious issue of hawker rehabilitation in Shillong’s bustling Police Bazar area, the Meghalaya High Court has appointed senior advocate Subhasis Chakrawarty as a Special Officer. This decision comes amidst escalating complaints of forcible evictions of vendors without adherence to due process.
Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh issued the directive yesterday, July 3, 2025, following a hearing of grievances from the Hawkers’ Association. The association alleged that local authorities and police were forcibly removing vendors from the Police Bazar, leaving them without alternative vending spaces.
Mr. Chakrawarty has been entrusted with the crucial responsibility of ensuring the peaceful and proper implementation of the court’s earlier order dated June 12, 2025, specifically to prevent any breach of peace during the ongoing rehabilitation efforts. The state government has been directed to pay him an initial remuneration of Rs 75,000 by July 11, 2025.
In a partial reprieve for licensed vendors, the court has allowed approximately 349 hawkers to continue operating in their existing spots for limited hours daily – from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM. This arrangement comes with a strict caveat: vendors must adhere to these timings and vacate the area promptly to ensure smooth traffic flow and pedestrian movement. The General Secretary of the Hawkers’ Association has provided an undertaking to the court confirming that licensed vendors will comply with these restrictions, with the court warning of a complete ban on vending activities in the area should any breach occur.
The Special Officer, in collaboration with the General Secretary of the Hawkers’ Association and local authorities, will also be tasked with identifying unlicensed vendors in the Police Bazar area, who will be prohibited from selling their goods at that location. However, the court has offered a ray of hope for these unlicensed hawkers, allowing them to apply for valid licenses through the appropriate authorities. The court has stated it will consider further action based on reports from these authorities regarding such applications.
Furthermore, the court emphatically stated that all vendors must immediately shift to alternative vending spaces once they are provided by local authorities. The General Secretary of the Hawkers’ Association has once again assured the court of compliance, with a stern warning from the bench that non-compliance will lead to immediate eviction.
The Advocate General had previously countered allegations of forcible evictions, asserting that alternative vending areas had been designated but hawkers were refusing to relocate. The state counsel maintained that all licensed vendors could be accommodated in the new vending area within a short timeframe.
Mr. Chakrawarty is expected to file a comprehensive report, which will include sub-reports from local and police authorities, by August 5, 2025, the date when the matter is scheduled for its next hearing. The court expressed confidence in the Special Officer’s “vast knowledge, experience, maturity and tact” to ensure the effective implementation of its orders without any untoward incidents.
This ongoing legal saga encompasses multiple petitions, including PIL No. 17 of 2021 by Philip Khrawbok Shati, PIL No. 9 of 2024 by the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association, and MC(PIL) No. 1 of 2025, all addressing the critical issue of hawker rehabilitation in Shillong.