Rengammal v. The District Collector

Madras HC20 Jan 2026WP(MD)/7223/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Street vendors; Trichy Municipal Corporation; District Collector Tiruchirappalli; street vendor identity card; licence; footpath; encroachment; Section 3; Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014; restraint from eviction; no alternative site; writ of mandamus; Article 226; Mahatma Ganthi Government Hospital; Ko.Abhisekapuram Zone; disposed of; R. Vijayakumar; Madurai Bench.

What did the court decide?

Respondents restrained from evicting the writ petitioners without following the procedures contemplated under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014; no order as to costs; connected Miscellaneous Petitions closed. ¶¶27

Rengammal Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent authorities may disturb or evict the petitioners' street-vending business conducted near Main Gate, Adjacent to Compound Wall of Mahatma Ganthi Government Hospital, Ko.Abhisekapuram Zone, Tiruchirappalli City, notwithstanding that the Corporation has issued them street vendor identity cards/licences.

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Court's answer

Because the respondent Municipal Corporation itself granted the petitioners street vendors licences, the petitioners are protected under Section 3 of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014.

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Ratio / Principle

So far, the petitioners have not been provided with any alternative site.

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Key takeaways

The respondents are restrained from evicting the writ petitioners otherwise than by following the procedures contemplated under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014.ratio¶¶26

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), R. Vijayakumar J.: Writ of mandamus (Article 226) by six street vendors trading near Main Gate, Adjacent to Compound Wall of Mahatma Ganthi Government Hospital, Ko.Abhisekapuram Zone, Tiruchirappalli City, who hold street vendor identity cards issued by Trichy Municipal Corporation. The Corporation's counter alleged that the vendors traded on the pedestrian footpath and had re-erected shops after removal of encroachments. The court held that, having been granted street vendors licences, the petitioners are protected under Section 3 of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014, and admitted that no alternative site had been provided to them; it therefore restrained the respondents from evicting the petitioners without following the procedures contemplated under that Act. Writ disposed of; no costs; connected W.M.P(MD) Nos.6812 and 6814 of 2023 closed.

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W.P.(MD).No.7223 of 2023

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 20.01.2026

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR

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W.P(MD)No.7223 of 2023 and W.M.P(MD) Nos.6812 and 6814 of 2023

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1.Rengammal 2. Abipunnisha 3. Ajeera Beevi 4. Queen Elizabeth 5. Hawabeevi 6. Devika ... Petitioners Vs. 1. The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tiruchirappalli District. 2. The Commissioner, Trichy Municipal Corporation, Tiruchirappalli City. 3. The Assistant Commissioner, The Assistant Commissioner Office, Ko.Abhisekapuram Zone, Tiruchirappalli City. ... Respondents 1/5

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD).No.7223 of 2023

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents herein from in any manner disturbing the peaceful conduct of street vending business by the petitioners herein situated at nearby Main Gate, Adjacent to Compound Wall of Mahatma Ganthi Government Hospital, Ko.Abhisekapuram Zone, Tiruchirappalli City and by considering the petitioners representation dated 07.02.2023.

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For Petitioners : Mr.B.Jameel Arasu For R1 : Mrs.D.Farjana Ghoushia Special Government Pleader For R2 & R3 : Mr.J.Sai Prasad For M/s.R.B.Law Associates

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O R D E R

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The present writ petition has been filed by six street vendors seeking a Mandamus directing the respondent Municipal Corporation not to disturb their street vending business.

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2. A perusal of the records reveal that the respondent Corporation has issued street vendor identity card to all the petitioners and they are running

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2/5

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD).No.7223 of 2023

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their business near Main Gate, Adjacent to Compound Wall of Mahatma Ganthi Government Hospital, Ko.Abhisekapuram Zone, Tiruchirappalli City.

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3. The respondent has filed a counter to the effect that the petitioners are running their shop in the foot path meant for pedestrians and though they have removed the encroachments, they have again put up their shops in the foothpath. Therefore, they have to be removed and the prayer sought for in the writ petition cannot be granted.

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4. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.

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5. Admittedly, the petitioners have been granted street vendors license by the respondent Municipal Corporation. Therefore, it is clear that they are protected under Section 3 of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014. Admittedly, so far they have not been provided with any alternative site.

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3/5

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD).No.7223 of 2023

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6. In view of the above said facts, the respondents herein are restrained

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from evicting the writ petitioners without following the procedures as contemplated under the above said Act.

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7. With the above said observation, this writ petition stands disposed