HC stays hawker eviction drive at Howrah station, questions haste in cleanliness

The Calcutta High Court has provided significant temporary relief to hundreds of hawkers operating near Howrah Station by placing an interim stay on the state government's ongoing eviction drive. Presiding over the matter on Friday, Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya halted the exercise until the last week of June, ensuring that the livelihood of these small-scale traders is not abruptly disrupted without due legal process. The court observed that those facing eviction deserve a fair opportunity to present their arguments and defend their rights before any final action is taken.

Representing the petitioners, senior advocate and former Rajya Sabha member Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya presented a robust defense, arguing that the hawkers are not illegal encroachers. He informed the court that these traders operate by paying regular rent to the Hooghly River Waterway Transport, a state government entity. To support this claim, valid rent receipts, trade licenses, and GST registration documents were submitted as evidence. Furthermore, the defense pointed out procedural lapses, noting that the eviction notices issued by railway authorities were unsigned and merely pasted on walls rather than being served personally.

In response to the court's inquiry regarding the urgency of the drive, the counsel for the railways explained that Howrah Station is a key site for cleanliness initiatives under the Amrit Bharat project launched in 2024. However, the bench remained unconvinced that such development projects should bypass the rights of legitimate rent-paying tenants. Justice Bhattacharya has now directed representatives from the Hooghly River Waterway Transport to appear at the next hearing, scheduled for June 10, to clarify the legal status of the land and the tenants.