LHC judge grills DC Lahore for issuing vendors’ removal order in English

A hearing was held at the Lahore High Court on a petition filed against the removal of pushcarts in the name of encroachments and the consequent unemployment of street vendors, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Deputy Commissioner Lahore Captain (retd) Muhammad Ali Ijaz appeared before the court on Monday. The court expressed displeasure with the Deputy Commissioner for issuing orders related to street vendors in the English language.

Justice Rahil Kamran Sheikh heard the petition filed by street vendor Habibullah along with others. Deputy Commissioner Captain (Retd.) Muhammad Ali Ijaz and other officers appeared before the court along with Assistant Advocate General Punjab Muhammad Usman Khan. During the hearing, Justice Rahil Kamran Sheikh remarked that the Deputy Commissioner should do a favour to the nation and direct the Regulation Wing to issue future orders in the Urdu language. He observed that, according to the reply placed on record, municipal slogans are displayed in Urdu while orders concerning street vendors are issued in English, which is regrettable.

Justice Rahil Kamran Sheikh further remarked that only ten percent of the people in the country understand English and questioned whether the country was being handed over to the British. He added that nearly sixty percent of the population can barely read Urdu; therefore, orders should not be meant only for lawyers but must also be understandable to the general public.

During the hearing, the court asked the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner what difficulty there was in deciding the case. The Deputy Commissioner responded that the decision had already been taken and that it was made before the filing of the petition. The court then asked the petitioner’s counsel whether the pushcarts had been provided. The counsel replied that the pushcarts had been provided, but space to operate them was not being allotted.

The petitioner’s counsel stated that Rs. 3.8 million had been deposited, the pushcarts had been manufactured, but permission to operate them was not being granted. In response, Assistant Advocate General Usman Khan rejected this stance and stated that no amount was deposited on the directions of the administration. The Deputy Commissioner informed the court that space had been provided to the petitioner at Pir Makki.

Justice Rahil Kamran Sheikh remarked that it was hard to believe how a poor street vendor could deposit Rs. 3.8 million. The petitioner’s counsel replied that the remaining amount had been deposited by the petitioner’s fellow street vendors; however, the court observed that the other street vendors were not parties to the case, therefore their matter could not be resolved in this petition.

The petitioner’s counsel claimed that money was paid to the in-charge of the street-vendor market and that without his permission, such model pushcarts could not even be manufactured. In response, Assistant Advocate General Muhammad Usman Khan stated that pushcarts had been provided to everyone in Lahore. The court observed that if there were allegations of bribery or irregularities, the matter could be referred to the Anti-Corruption Department so that action could be taken against the guilty.

Justice Rahil Kamran Sheikh remarked that if action were taken, those making allegations would also think carefully before levelling accusations. Assistant Advocate General Usman Khan stated that such money is not deposited in the government treasury and that the petitioner’s claim of depositing money amounted to misrepresentation.

Justice Rahil Kamran Sheikh observed that the petitioner had approached the court by forming a “one-man union” and that, to the extent of the petitioner, the issue had already been resolved. He added that the remaining street vendors were not entitled to any relief in this petition as they were not parties to the case. The court clarified that the remaining individuals should approach the relevant authority, which would decide the matter in accordance with the law.

Finally, the court directed the Deputy Commissioner to decide the applications of the other street vendors in accordance with the law within fifteen days. The court further directed that all orders issued by the Regulation Wing should be in the Urdu language and that priority-based compliance be ensured. After hearing the arguments of the counsels for both sides, the court disposed of the petition.