Have bollards to keep hawkers at bay: Bombay high court

Paving the way for private participation in curbing the menace of growing unauthorised hawkers on footpaths, the Bombay high court on Thursday allowed Vijay Bhalla, father of Bollywood actor Vikas Bhalla, to continue having the bollards they erected on the footpath outside their bungalow in Bandra (West), to avoid encroachments by hawkers.

Bhalla had moved the high court, apprehending that the BMC would uproot the bollards and it would lead to encroachments.

The petition came up for hearing before a division bench of justices PB Majmudar and A Sayed. They observed: “We appreciate the stand taken by the BMC in allowing bollards to continue and the similar efforts by corporation carried out in places like Worli sea face, Nariman Point and outside Hinduja Hospital are welcoming.”

The bench also stated that the 13 bollards erected by the Bhallas outside their bungalow on Hill Road are temporary and they would have no objection if the BMC removes it. Advocate Komal Punjabi appearing for the BMC said, “We have no objection to such a move by private persons but it has to be followed as per law and in the larger interests of public.”

Advocate Vijendra Jabra appearing for Bhalla said, “They had purchased the said house in 1986, where now a playgroup and a nursery is functioning. Last year they were shocked to find out an unauthorised pan shop owned by one Suraj Ramsingh had come up on the footpath outside their bungalow. Ramsingh had even managed to get electricity bills, ration card and bank accounts using the address of the Bhallas. Immediately it was brought to the notice of the concerned authorities and action was taken. The offenders allegedly threatened the Bhallas.” The petition stated that after the BMC had removed the illegal stall to avoid re-encroachment they erected bollards on the footpath.