For millions of hawkers in Maharashtra, a historic milestone has been reached on the path to justice. On 23rd December 2025, the Honourable Bombay High Court announced the formation of a Special Bench to examine the legitimacy of street vendors and the proper implementation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. The Bench comprises Honourable Justice A.S. Gadkari and Honourable Justice Kamal Khata.This decision brings renewed hope for the 99,435 hawkers who were declared “protected” by the bench of Justice Gavai in 2017. Despite this, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) decision to hold elections for only 32,407 street vendors is completely illegal and arbitrary.The Long Journey of StruggleThe fight for hawkers’ rights is not new. For years, organizations such as the Maharashtra Ekta Hawkers Union, Maharashtra Hawkers Federation, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Hawkers Union Mumbai, Lal Bawta General Hawkers Organisation, and Janwadi Hawkers Sabha have raised their voices both in court and on the streets. These organizations firmly believe that every hawker surveyed in 2014 deserves equal rights, and the Town Vending Committee (TVC) elections must be transparent and inclusive.
Special Bench:
A New HopeThe court’s decision clearly indicates that hawkers’ issues are being taken seriously. The formation of a Special Bench signals that the matter will now undergo thorough review and the judicial process will move forward swiftly. Legal experts such as Senior Advocate Mr. Punit Jain from Delhi and Advocate Mr. S. Khan from Mumbai have presented the case before the court with utmost dedication and energy.
The Way Forward
The next hearing is scheduled for 29th January 2026. We urge all our fellow hawkers to stay united, organized, and alert for upcoming updates. We are confident that the court will rule in our favour and grant us the full right to elect our own Town Vending Committee.
Conclusion
This fight is not just for hawkers, but for every common person who earns their livelihood through hard work and honesty. It is our collective struggle, unity, and faith that will bring us justice. Let us all stand stronger at this historic juncture.
—Nawaz Khan, Com. Prakash Reddy, Com. Akhilesh Gaur, Vinita Balekundri, Jafar Bhai, Syed SaleemNational Hawkers Federation
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