While passing the order, a Bench comprising Justice B P Singh and Justice Arun Kumar warned that Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Delhi Administration and Delhi Police that they should not adopt the policy of pick and chose for removing the hawkers and squatters.

If it was found that the authorities have not taken the steps properly, suitable action would be taken against the concerned officials under the Contempt of Court Act, the Bench said.

It asked the MCD and NDMC to file a compliance report in the matter within four weeks. Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran and advocate Sanjib Sen, appearing for MCD, contended that hawking and squatting was a social problem as large number of immigrants come to the Capital every year. However, the court said it could not allow the public land to be encroached.

The court granted eight weeks to MCD and NDMC to frame a policy for hawkers. The scheme should include how and what types of activities will be allowed, it said. 

During the hearing, the court observed it wanted to make the Capital free from unauthorised hawkers and spoke about the markets in Lajpat Nagar and Sadar Bazar where the footpaths and even some parts of roads are occupied by squatters.