SAJJAD, S/O.SHAMSUDEEN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners who claim to be street vendors are aggrieved by the impugned decision taken by the 4th respondent-Tahsildar, Kollam, in taking eviction steps against them. The main prayers in this Writ Petition (Civil) are as follows:

(2.) Heard Sri.Saju J.Panicker, learned counsel for the petitioners, Sri.K.V.Sohan, learned State Attorney, instructed by Smt.K.B.Soni, learned Government Pleader appearing for respondents 1 to 6 and Sri.M.R.Sasith Panicker, learned counsel appearing for the 7th respondent-Chathanoor Grama Panchayat.

(3.) According to the petitioners, they are conducting tea vending in temporary movable carts in the area immediately adjacent to the Chathanoor Bus Stand, Kollam, within the territorial limits of the 7th respondent-Chathanoor Grama Panchayat, which is hardly 200 meters away from the National Highway. According to the petitioners, they are running their business for the last so many years and that they have been conducting tea vending without any obstruction to the traffic or pedestrians. It is further stated by the petitioners that the 4th respondent-Tahsildar has now initiated proceedings dated 21.10.2015 proposing to evict the petitioners from the present location by invoking powers under the Land Conservancy Act. This Court as per order dated 12.1.2018 ordered to maintain status quo, which has been extended until further orders. Petitioners have challenged the decision of the