Disposed¶52

Ashok Kumar Verma and Ors. v. Commissioner of Police and Ors.

Delhi HC17 Mar 2026W.P.(C)/1313/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Street vending; Town Vending Committee (TVC); Certificate of Vending (CoV); Delhi Cantonment Board; police harassment/eviction of authorised vendors; Article 226 Constitution of India; TVC resolutions of 21.03.2025, 30.10.2025 and 15.01.2026 protecting temporary certificate holders from eviction till finalisation of vending zones; related proceedings W.P.(C) 10113/2025 (Ravi Kumar & Ors. v. Commissioner of Police & Ors.) with order dated 15.10.2025; petition disposed on 17.03.2026; Coram: Justice Prathiba M. Singh (oral) and Justice Madhu Jain.

What did the court decide?

Petitioners to peacefully vend as per the terms and conditions of the CoV; TVC at liberty to take action in accordance with law in case of any violation by the Petitioners; pending applications disposed of. ¶52

Ashok Kumar Verma and Ors. Vs Commissioner of Police… — Writ and Judicial Review | Delhi HC (2026)

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$~50

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* I�THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT �EW DELHI Date of decision: 17^th March, 2026. Uploaded on: 18^th March, 2026.

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- W.P.(C) 1313/2026 ASHOK KUMAR VERMA AND ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Vipin Kumar, Mr. Kailash Kr. Jha, Mr. Anjani Kr Mishra, Ms. Pralika Chakraborty, Mr. Fareeduddin & Ms. Srejal Mishra, Advs. (M: 9671520024)

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versus COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Ms. Shakun Sudha Shukla (SPC) along with Ms Aashna Mehra and Mr. Dhananjay Tiwari, Advs. (M: 9910039449) Mr. Tarveen Singh Nanda, Standing Counsel with Mr. Gaurav Aggarwal, Adv. for DCB. Ms. Vaishali Gupta and Mr. Siddharth Arora, Advs. for R-7. (M: 8076720913)

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CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SI�GH JUSTICE MADHU JAI� Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral)

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This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.

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The present petition has been filed by the Petitioners under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, inter alia , seeking an appropriate writ directing the Respondents to allow Petitioners to peacefully vend at their vending sites located within the Delhi Cantonment Board area.

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The Petitioners claim to be vendors in the Delhi Cantonment Board Area.

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The brief background of the present case is that, Petitioners have placed

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W.P.(C) 1313/2026

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Page 1 of 5

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Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:DEVANSHU JOSHI Signing Da te:1 8.03.2026 15:22:55

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reliance upon the ‘ Minutes of meeting ’ dated 2^nd April, 2025 pertaining to the meeting held on 21st March, 2025 by the Town Vending Committee (hereinafter, ‘TVC’) , Delhi Cantonment Board. In the said meeting, it was decided by the TVC that 235 vendors were the authorised vendors and they would be allowed to vend and would not be evicted from the Delhi Cantonment Board area.

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Provisional Certificates of Vending (hereinafter, ‘CoV’) were issued to the 235 vendors on 10th May, 2025 including the Petitioners. However, sometime in November to December 2025, the Petitioners allege that they are being harassed by the police officials and concerned Delhi cantonment Board officials. They were evicted by the concerned police officials and were not allowed to vend from their vending sites.

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Pursuant thereto, the Petitioners then filed W.P (C)10113/2025 titled ‘ Ravi Kumar & Ors. v. Commissioner of Police & Ors .’, in view of the fact that the concerned officials of the Delhi Police had taken away their goods and wares. This culminated into the order dated 15^th October, 2025 which reads as under:

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“1 We have perused the Status Report filed by the police authority, who had seized goods of petitioners, who were vending with a Certificate of Vending ('COV") issued by the Town Vending Committee (TVC), Delhi Cantonment Board.

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2 Though an objection is raised by police authority that the COVs are only provisional and tenure mentioned therein has already expired, a resolution passed by TVC, placed on record by Delhi Cantonment Board, speaks of extension of the same to which even police authority is a party.

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3. Status Report filed by the police authority speaks of serious difficulties faced by them in managing

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W.P.(C) 1313/2026

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Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:DEVANSHU JOSHI Signing Da te:1 8.03.2026 15:22:55

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and manoeuvring the traffic.

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4. We are sensitive to the difficulties narrated in the Status Report; however, there are ways and means for dealing with such difficulties.

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5. In such an eventuality, it was open for the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police ('DCP) to request TVC either to relocate the petitioners or cancel the provisional COVs. This recourse was not taken till this date; however, a shortcut method is adopted of seizing goods of vendors/petitioners.

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6. In response to the Court's query, it is assured that petitioners, whose goods have been seized, can appear in the office of the concerned SHO tomorrow, i.e. 16th October 2025, at 11:00 am and on priority basis, their goods shall be released without levying any penalty/fine.

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7. This statement is coming on instruction and the same is accepted.

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8. We further permit the concerned DCP to move a request before TVC as regards relocation of petitioners or that of cancellation of COVs. If any such request is made within 72 hours from today with the TVC, the TVC shall upon hearing petitioners, shall pass appropriate order of relocation or cancellation. The same is permitted to be placed on record and an affidavit be filed by the TVC to that effect.

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9. In the meantime, we direct that the petitioners be permitted to vend in accordance with the COVs; however, it shall be open for the respondent/police authority to regulate the traffic and other issues without seizing the goods of petitioners.

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10. An assurance has been made by counsel appearing for petitioners that the terms and conditions of the provisional COVs, shall be strictly adhered to. Same is taken on record.

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11. Petitioners have undertaken to appear before the Chief Executive Officer ('CEO' ), TVC, on 28th

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W.P.(C) 1313/2026

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Signature Not Verified

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Digitally Signed By:DEVANSHU JOSHI Signing Da te:1 8.03.2026 15:22:55

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October 2025.

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12. List before this Court for further consideration on 17th December 2025, the date already fixed. 13. Order be uploaded on the website of this Court.”

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Thereafter, another meeting was held by the TVC, dated 30th October, 2025 – the decisions taken therein were captured in ‘Minutes of Meeting’ dated 3^rd November, 2025. The relevant portion of the ‘ Minutes of the meeting ’ reads as under:

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“The TVC resolved that the vendors, identified in the survey published on 26.07.2024 and 23.08.2024, will continue to vend in their respective areas as per the terms and conditions of the vending certificate till the next date of meeting. In the meanwhile, the vendors are specifically directed to adhere to the instruction of the police authorities. It is open for the police authorities

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to take action along with the Revenue Department of Delhi Cantonment Board against the unauthorized vendors, functional within the territorial limit of Delhi Cantonment, in accordance with law, who have not been identified in the survey published on 26.07.2024 and 23.08.2024. Once the vending plan is approved and recommended by the TVC, the same shall be placed before the Delhi Cantonment Board for its approval .

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Once the vending plan is approved and recommended by the TVC/, the same shall be placed before the Delhi Cantonment Board for its approval.”

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The case of the Petitioners is that the Petitioners are continuously being disturbed in vending their wares.

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On 30^th January, 2026, the Court had heard ld. Counsels for the parties and notice was issued to the Respondents and the status report was called for. In addition, ld. Counsel for the Delhi Cantonment Board was directed to place

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W.P.(C) 1313/2026

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Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:DEVANSHU JOSHI Signing Da te:1 8.03.2026 15:22:55

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on record the ‘Minutes of Meeting’ dated 15th January, 2026. 10. Today, ld. Counsel for the Delhi Cantonment Board has placed on record the ‘Minutes of Meeting’ dated 15th January, 2026.

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The relevant portion of the ‘Minutes of Meeting’ dated 15th January, 2026 is as under:

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“ (8) The TVC further resolved that the holder of temporary vending certificate shall not be evicted from the vending site till the finalization of vending zones and issuance of vending certificate. However, if there is any violation by these vendors then process should be initiated to cancel the temporary vending certificate.”

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As per the above Minutes, the TVC has decided not to evict the Petitioners till the vending zones are finalised, so long as they adhere to the terms of the temporary vending certificates.

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In view of the above, the prayer sought by the Petitioners stands satisfied. The Petitioners shall peacefully vend as per terms and conditions of the CoV.

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If there is any violation by the Petitioners, the TVC is at liberty to take action in accordance with law.

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The petition is disposed of in the above terms. Pending applications, if any, are also disposed of.

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PRATHIBA M. SI�GH JUDGE

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MADHU JAI� JUDGE

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MARCH 17, 2026/ dk/sm

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Page 5 of 5

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W.P.(C) 1313/2026

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Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:DEVANSHU JOSHI Signing Da te:1 8.03.2026 15:22:55

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Prior proceeding
Meeting held on 21st March, 2025 by the Town Vending Committee (TVC), Delhi Cantonment Board ('Minutes of meeting' dated 2nd April, 2025): TVC decided 235 vendors were authorised vendors, to be allowed to vend and not evicted from the Delhi Cantonment Board area.¶13
Prior proceeding
Provisional Certificates of Vending (CoV) issued to the 235 vendors, including the Petitioners, on 10th May, 2025.¶14
Prior proceeding
November to December 2025: Petitioners allege harassment by police officials and Delhi Cantonment Board officials; they were evicted and not allowed to vend from their vending sites.¶14
Prior proceeding
Petitioners filed W.P.(C) 10113/2025, 'Ravi Kumar & Ors. v. Commissioner of Police & Ors', after Delhi Police officials took away their goods and wares; this culminated in the order dated 15th October, 2025.¶15
Prior proceeding
Order dated 15th October, 2025 in W.P.(C) 10113/2025: petitioners permitted to vend in accordance with the COVs; police permitted to regulate traffic without seizing goods; DCP permitted to request TVC for relocation or cancellation of COVs.¶28
Prior proceeding
TVC meeting dated 30th October, 2025 ('Minutes of Meeting' dated 3rd November, 2025): vendors identified in the surveys published on 26.07.2024 and 23.08.2024 to continue vendinging per certificate terms till the next meeting; police free to act, with the Revenue Department of Delhi Cantonment Board, against unauthorized vendors.¶38
Prior proceeding
On 30th January, 2026 the Court heard counsel, issued notice to the Respondents and called for a status report; Delhi Cantonment Board was directed to place the 'Minutes of Meeting' dated 15th January, 2026 on record.¶42
Prior proceeding
Delhi Cantonment Board placed the 'Minutes of Meeting' dated 15th January, 2026 on record.¶46
Prior proceeding
TVC Minutes dated 15th January, 2026 (item 8): holders of temporary vending certificates not to be evicted from vending sites till finalization of vending zones and issuance of vending certificates; process to be initiated to cancel the certificate upon violation.¶48

Ashok Kumar Verma and Ors. v. Commissioner of Police and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Ashok Kumar Verma and Ors. v. Commissioner of Police and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

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