Emergency Situation Cannot Override Street Vendors’ Rights: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court upheld the statutory rights of street vendors, stating that emergency situations cannot be used as a pretext for their eviction without due process.

The case involved street vendors in Kollam who were issued eviction notices citing safety concerns near a hospital oxygen plant.

The Division Bench ruled that the eviction violated the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, as the authorities had failed to finalize vending zones and provide alternative sites.

The court quashed the eviction notice, reaffirming the need for compliance with legal safeguards before any removal.