WhatsApp Channel Join Now
Telegram Group Join Now

Relevance: GS-II (Social Justice, Urban Governance); GS-IV (Ethical Dilemmas in Administration) Source: Urban Governance Updates, 2026

1 · What is the news?

As students and citizens, we all know the struggle of walking on crowded Indian footpaths. To fix this, Bengaluru recently launched a 10-day ‘Safe Footpath’ drive. While making streets safe for pedestrians is great, the police ruthlessly evicted thousands of poor street vendors overnight!
As future administrators, this is exactly the kind of tough ethical dilemma you will face. We want world-class, clean cities, but can we achieve that by destroying the daily bread of our poorest citizens? Legal experts are angry because these sudden evictions completely bypass the strict, compassionate rules laid down in the Street Vendors Act, 2014. Let us decode this clash of rights!

2 · The Clash of Rights

Step 1: Reclaiming the Footpath
The municipality decides to clear footpaths so citizens can walk safely. Police move in and forcefully remove street vendors and their carts.
▼
Step 2: The Legal Shield (2014 Act)
Wait! The Street Vendors Act, 2014 clearly says the government MUST form a Town Vending Committee (TVC) and conduct a proper survey first.
▼
Step 3: The Eviction Ban
Under the law, absolutely NO street vendor can be evicted or relocated until this official TVC survey is completed and certificates are issued.
▼
Step 4: The Procedural Injustice
Bengaluru authorities bypassed this mandatory step! Evicting the poor without following due process violates basic administrative ethics.

3 · Core Concepts

Article 19(1)(g)
The Vendor’s Right
The Supreme Court recognizes street vending as a legitimate occupation. Vendors have a fundamental right to earn a livelihood, though it can be reasonably regulated.
Article 21
The Pedestrian’s Right
Citizens have the fundamental right to life and liberty, which courts say includes the right to walk on safe, hazard-free public streets without encroachments.
The TVC Backbone
Participatory Governance
The Town Vending Committee (TVC) ensures vendors have a seat at the table. Legally, at least 40% of TVC members must be the vendors themselves!
The Ethics Paper (GS-IV)
Utilitarianism vs Compassion
Clearing footpaths brings the “greatest good for the greatest number” (Utilitarianism). But doing so by instantly destroying the lives of the poorest citizens violates equity and compassion.

Prelims Quick Facts: Laws & Schemes
PM SVANidhi Scheme A micro-credit facility launched by MoHUA offering affordable, collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors to help them run their businesses.
The 2.5% Limit The 2014 Act plans to accommodate street vendors up to 2.5% of a city or ward’s total population in properly designated vending zones.
Grievance Redressal To prevent police harassment, the Act mandates an independent committee chaired by a Civil Judge or Judicial Magistrate to solve vendor disputes.
Certificate of Vending It gives a vendor official permission to sell in a zone, but remember for the exam: it does not confer ownership rights over the public land!

MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to the rights of street vendors and urban governance in India, consider the following statements:

  1. Under the Street Vendors Act, 2014, no street vendor can be evicted or relocated until the Town Vending Committee (TVC) completes its official survey.
  2. The PM SVANidhi scheme provides collateral-free working capital loans specifically to street vendors.
  3. In the Town Vending Committee (TVC), representatives of street vendors must constitute at least 75% of the total members.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only    (b) 1 and 2 only    (c) 2 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only

  • Statement 1 — Correct: This is the strongest legal safeguard in the 2014 Act. Local authorities cannot arbitrarily clear pavements without first completing the TVC survey!
  • Statement 2 — Correct: The PM SVANidhi scheme was specially launched by MoHUA to support the vendor economy with affordable, collateral-free micro-credit.
  • Statement 3 — Incorrect (the trap): Watch the percentages carefully for UPSC! The Act mandates that street vendors must constitute at least 40% (not 75%) of the TVC members to ensure a balanced, participatory approach.
Ajmal IAS APSC Foundation Course

Recent Posts

Ajmal IAS APSC Foundation BATCH
Ajmal IAS APSC Foundation Course

Start Yours at Ajmal IAS – with Mentorship StrategyDisciplineClarityResults that Drives Success

Your dream deserves this moment — begin it here.