M’laya Govt decides to repeal state vending act

The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.

“The matter was discussed and the cabinet gave its nod for repealing the state act,” Law Minister James K Sangma told reporters after the meeting.

He said the state government had earlier enacted the Meghalaya Street Vendors Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Act, 2014. However, the Government of India had legislated the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act in March 2014

“In the follow up to the communication of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the department has gone ahead to bring this agenda to the cabinet to repeal present Meghalaya Street Vendors Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Act, 2014 and in its place adopt the Central Act,” Sangma said.

Consequent to this, the minister informed that the state government has also adopted the Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules, 2022.

“This is just an adoption of the central act and pursuant to that we have to frame rules,” he said.

On August 16, The Meghalaya High Court had directed the state government to look into the issue of hawkers taking over footpaths and the alleged paying of fees to private persons as protection money to set up shop.

The court had also taken a dim view of hawkers taking over footpaths and pedestrian walkways virtually all over Shillong and Tura, the two main cities in the State and even elsewhere.

When asked, the law minister admitted that there was an ambiguity in the matter because of the fact that there is also the central act in place.

“(Now that the) central act has been adopted by the state government of Meghalaya, there will be more clarity on the issues that have been raised by the High Court and I think there will be no more ambiguity,” he asserted.

By Our Reporter