UPSC Mains
GS Paper II
Governance / Urban Local Bodies
24 July 2026 — Current Affairs
Street Vendors Act 2014: How Should Cities Reclaim Footpaths?
Vendor Share in TVC
At Least 40%
Women Representation
At Least 33%
Survey Frequency
Once Every 5 Years
Context: Supreme Court and the Right to Safe Footpaths
- The Supreme Court recently recognised the right to walk on safe footpaths as a fundamental right.
- The Bengaluru Development Minister directed five city corporations to launch a 10-day Safe Footpath drive.
- Thousands of street vendors were removed from pavements and encroachments were cleared, raising serious questions about compliance with the Street Vendors Act 2014.
Street Vendors Act 2014: Key Facts and Framework
- The Act was enacted to end arbitrary removals by laying down a regulated process for street vending.
- It is neither an anti-encroachment law nor one giving vendors unrestricted rights over public spaces.
- States and ULBs must conduct a vendor survey at least once every five years.
- A Grievance Redressal Committee, chaired by a civil judge or judicial magistrate, must be constituted.
- The Act does not prohibit removal of vendors but requires due process to be followed before any action.
Town Vending Committee (TVC): Vendors must constitute at least 40% of TVC members, including 33% women. The TVC also includes officials, police, planning authorities and resident representatives alongside vendors.
Certificate of Vending
Official permission to vend at a specific location under specified conditions — issued only after a survey.
No Eviction Before Survey
No vendor should be evicted or relocated until the survey is completed and Certificates of Vending are issued.
Issues in Implementation of the Street Vendors Act 2014
⚠️
Bengaluru corporations began removing vendors before constituting a Town Vending Committee — a direct procedural violation of the Act’s due-process requirements.
- Karnataka does not have a functional TVC, meaning no vending zones or no-vending zones have been identified anywhere in the state.
- No vendor survey has been completed, making Certificate of Vending issuance legally impossible at present.
- The Chief Minister promised relocation later, but the Act requires TVC identification of sites before any relocation can occur.
- Removals without due process replicate the same arbitrary evictions the Act was specifically enacted to prevent.
- The recurring pattern of municipal bodies and police evicting vendors without notice continues despite the law being in force for over a decade.
- Balancing two constitutional rights — pedestrians’ safety and vendors’ livelihood — remains poorly operationalised on the ground.
Way Forward: Reclaiming Footpaths Without Bypassing Safeguards
Constitute Functional TVCs
Set up working Town Vending Committees in all cities before initiating any eviction or relocation drive.
Complete Vendor Surveys
Finish mandatory surveys before issuing or denying Certificates of Vending to existing vendors.
Identify Vending Zones
Designate vending and no-vending zones through participatory planning with vendor representatives.
Establish Grievance Committees
Provide a fair forum for vendor disputes and relocation appeals.
Relocate Before Removal
Ensure vendors have a viable alternative livelihood location before any removal takes place.
🔗
Source: The Hindu
