DCP directed to file report on encroachment

CHENNAI: How the hawkers are allowed to encroach upon pavements again and again? Raising this question, the first bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice TS Sivagnanam on Friday directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, within whose jurisdiction NSC Bose Road, Parry’s Corner and other roads in and around High Court fell, to file an affidavit stating as to how persons were allowed to encroach the planks on either side of the roads, once, according to the Chennai Corporation Commissioner, they were evicted?The bench was passing further interim orders on a public interest writ petition from social worker `Traffic’ KR Ramaswamy seeking to remove the encroachments in the city. The question followed a submission from the Chennai Corporation Commissioner that the hawkers were being removed periodically with the help of local police.The bench said that it failed to understand the reason for evicting unauthorised hawkers periodically, once they had already been evicted. The Corporation stated that the hawkers again and again encroached the pavements. “If that is so, then why the officers of the Corporation and the police officials allow the hawkers to encroach the pavements, once they have been evicted,’’ the bench wondered, gave the direction to the DCP and posted the matter for further hearing on February 27.