Mumbai: HC orders ‘thorough verification’ of street vendors, action against undocumented migrants
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The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mumbai Police to conduct a “thorough verification” of all street vendors in the city and take action against those found to be undocumented migrants, Bar and Bench reported.
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A division bench of Justices Ajay S Gadkari and Kamal R Khata was hearing a group of petitions alleging that undocumented migrants were undertaking “illegal hawking”, The Indian Express reported.
The direction came against the backdrop of several Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states rounding up thousands of Bengali-speaking migrant workers since May and asking them to prove that they were Indian citizens – and not undocumented immigrants.
In several cases, workers have been declared foreigners within days and forced into Bangladesh, despite being Indian citizens.
The court stated that the authorities should verify the identities of all street vendors, including “those alleged to be Bangladeshis or non-Indian residents, nationals who operate stalls or carry on vending or hawking activities or work as assistants or helpers of such stallholders, vendors or hawkers”.
In case any person is found to be an undocumented immigrant, “appropriate action shall be taken in accordance with law, including steps for repatriation by the competent authorities”, the bench added.
It warned that officers who fail to take necessary steps will face punishment, Bar and Bench reported
The bench...