Assam
,
Guwahati
,
Kamrup
Published : 12 July, 2014   |   Last updated - 24 Jun, 2024
Guwahati Municipal Corporation evicts over 150 street vendors near Cotton University
Reported by
Emilo Yanthan
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Updated by
Anupa Kujur
31
Households affected
150
People Affected
2023
Year started
Land area affected
31
Households affected
150
People Affected
2023
Year started
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Urban Development (Other than Smart Cities)
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban
Ended
1
Summary

The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) evicted about 150 street vendors near the Nehru Park and Cotton University campus in Guwahati on August 12, 2023.

The eviction drive was carried out after the Cotton College Students' Union threatened to stage a protest against the planned construction of a "Khao Gali" adjacent to their campus. The eviction drive targeted temporary businesses—mostly foot carts—that had been operating in the area close to Nehru Park, Cotton University, and Food Villa.

GMC officials were quoted as saying, “Today we conducted an eviction drive near the Nehru Park and Cotton University campus. We have asked all vendors and stall owners to leave the areas as soon as possible. If they fail to do so, we will have to forcefully evict them from the place.”

However, the evicted individuals stated that the officials did not give them prior notice about the drive or provided them with an alternative market space or vending zone where they could put up their stalls.

A lady owning food stall told Pratidin Time, “The authorities did not give us any prior notice before evicting (us from) this area. We have been working since morning, cooking many dishes including meat and other items for our regular customers. Now, all that we cooked have to be thrown away. Who will take the blame for the loss we have incurred? The authorities are concerned in clearing the area, but are least bothered about our re-settlement.”

Expressing concern over the sudden eviction by the GMC, president of the Street Vendors’ Association of Assam, Chandan Goswami, said, "Prior to the eviction drive, no notice was served, which is against the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act of 2014."

According to the GMC, several eviction drives have been carried out in various parts of Guwahati, but these efforts have been ineffective because street vendors return to the areas a few days after being forced out.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Complaint against procedural violations

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Urban

Type of Land

Common

Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Commercial

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

Author
Reported by
Emilo Yanthan

Assam

Kumar Sambhav is a social entrepreneur and award-winning journalist, leading innovative research in accountability investigations. He is the founder of Land Conflict Watch and is currently working as India Research Lead with Princeton University’s Digital Witness Lab.

Read More

Latest updates
Rajasthan
Rajasthan

UIT Bikaner's Jorbeer Housing Project on Stalls Following Rajasthan High Court Order

Rajasthan
Rajasthan

Jaipur Development Authority Acquires Land for Township Project, Ending Conflict

Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh

Farmers land acquired under Mansarovar Housing Scheme in Lucknow

Maharashtra
Maharashtra

Citizens unite against cycle track around Powai, Vihar Lakes in Mumbai

Jharkhand
Jharkhand

Families displaced by Mandal Dam in Jharkhand opppose project resumption

Jharkhand
Jharkhand

Jharkhand approves Adani's thermal plant, farmers allege violation of LARR Act

Gujarat
Gujarat

Pastoral Community in Gujarat's Banni Grasslands Demands Titles Recognising Community Forest Rights

Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh

Builder Encroaches Upon Farmers Land in Gosaiganj Lucknow, 150 Allottees in Lurch

Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Complaint against procedural violations

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Guwahati Municipal Corporation evicts over 150 street vendors near Cotton University

Reported by

Emilo Yanthan

Legal Review by

Anmol Gupta

Edited by

Anupa Sagar Kujur

Updated by

Updated by

Published on

December 14, 2023

December 15, 2023

Edited on

December 14, 2023

Sector

Infrastructure

Reason or Cause of Conflict

Urban Development (Other than Smart Cities)

Starting Year

2023

Land Area Affected (in Hectares)

ha

Households Affected by Conflict

31

People Affected by Conflict

150

State

Assam

Sector

Infrastructure

People Affected by Conflict

150

Households Affected by Conflict

31

Land Area Affected (in Hectares)

ha

Starting Year

2023

Location of Conflict

Guwahati

Kamrup

Reason or Cause of Conflict

Urban Development (Other than Smart Cities)

Land Conflict Summary

The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) evicted about 150 street vendors near the Nehru Park and Cotton University campus in Guwahati on August 12, 2023.

The eviction drive was carried out after the Cotton College Students' Union threatened to stage a protest against the planned construction of a "Khao Gali" adjacent to their campus. The eviction drive targeted temporary businesses—mostly foot carts—that had been operating in the area close to Nehru Park, Cotton University, and Food Villa.

GMC officials were quoted as saying, “Today we conducted an eviction drive near the Nehru Park and Cotton University campus. We have asked all vendors and stall owners to leave the areas as soon as possible. If they fail to do so, we will have to forcefully evict them from the place.”

However, the evicted individuals stated that the officials did not give them prior notice about the drive or provided them with an alternative market space or vending zone where they could put up their stalls.

A lady owning food stall told Pratidin Time, “The authorities did not give us any prior notice before evicting (us from) this area. We have been working since morning, cooking many dishes including meat and other items for our regular customers. Now, all that we cooked have to be thrown away. Who will take the blame for the loss we have incurred? The authorities are concerned in clearing the area, but are least bothered about our re-settlement.”

Expressing concern over the sudden eviction by the GMC, president of the Street Vendors’ Association of Assam, Chandan Goswami, said, "Prior to the eviction drive, no notice was served, which is against the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act of 2014."

According to the GMC, several eviction drives have been carried out in various parts of Guwahati, but these efforts have been ineffective because street vendors return to the areas a few days after being forced out.

Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Complaint against procedural violations

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Urban

Type of Land

Common

Type of Common Land

Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Commercial

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

Legal Data

Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict

Legislations/Policies Involved

Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014
Section 3 [Survey should be carried out by Town Vending committee of all existing street vendors at least once every 5 years. The vendors shall not be evicted until the survey is complete and certificate of vending is issued to all vendors] Section 18 [Municipal corporation may declare a zone as a no-vending zone and relocate street vendors in such manner as is specified in the scheme. No street vendor can be evicted without prior notice of 30 days.]
National Policy on Urban Street Vendors, 2009
Para 5 [No forceful evictions, minimum 30 days' notice to be provided where relocation is necessary.]
  1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  4. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  5. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  6. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  7. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute

No

What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?

What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?

Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:

Non-consultation with stakeholders

Forced evictions/dispossession of land

Legal Status:

Out of Court

Status of Case In Court

Whether any adjudicatory body was approached

No

Name of the adjudicatory body

Name(s) of the Court(s)

Case Number

Main Reasoning/Decision of court

Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:

No items found.

Reported Details of the Violation:

Date of Violation

Location of Violation

Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Guwahati Municipal Corporation

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

No

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Resources

Resources Related to Conflict

  • News Articles Related to the Conflict:
  • Documents Related to the Conflict:
  • Links Related to the Conflict:

Images

Image Credit:  

Image Credit:  

Video

Other Land Conflicts in Assam

cross
    Not a member yet?
    Sign up now
    Conflicts Map
    Conflict Database
    About Us