Street Vendors Act 2014: Rights, Vending Certificate, TVC, Eviction & Penalties

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 is Act No. 7 of 2014. It was enacted to protect the rights of urban street vendors while providing a statutory framework for regulation of street vending. The Act came into force on 1 May 2014.

Implementation note: The central Act provides the legal framework, while detailed implementation depends on the rules, schemes, vending plans and local arrangements applicable in the relevant State or Union Territory. Street vendors should therefore also check the rules and scheme notified for their jurisdiction.

Key subjects covered by the Act

The Act addresses identification and survey of street vendors, issue and renewal of certificates of vending, vendor rights and duties, relocation and eviction, seizure and reclaiming of goods, grievance redressal, planning of vending zones, constitution and functioning of Town Vending Committees, prevention of harassment, penalties, rule-making, bye-laws and schemes.

Street Vendors Act 2014 - Section-wise Guide

Sections 1-2Short title, commencement, application and definitions Sections 3-4Survey, protection from eviction or relocation and certificate of vending Sections 5-6Conditions, categories of certificate and identity cards Sections 7-9Criteria, vending fees, validity and renewal Sections 10-11Cancellation or suspension and appeal from TVC decision Sections 12-14Rights, relocation entitlement and duties of street vendors Sections 15-17Cleanliness, civic amenities and maintenance charges Section 18Relocation or eviction of street vendors Section 19Seizure and reclaiming of goods Section 20Grievance redressal and dispute resolution Section 21Plan for street vending Section 22Town Vending Committee Sections 23-24TVC meetings and temporary association of persons Sections 25-26TVC office support, vendor charter, database and social audit Sections 27-28Prevention of harassment and penalties Sections 29-31No ownership rights, returns and promotional measures Sections 32-34Research, overriding effect and delegation Sections 35-36Power to amend Schedules and make rules Sections 37-39Bye-laws, schemes and removal of difficulties First SchedulePlan for street vending Second ScheduleMatters to be provided in the scheme for street vendors

Practical legal points

Survey and certificate: The statutory scheme links protection and regulation of vending to surveys of street vendors and the issue of certificates of vending. Eligibility, conditions and local procedure should be checked against the applicable State/UT rules and scheme.

Town Vending Committee: The TVC is central to implementation of the Act, including surveys, vending-zone planning and decisions connected with certificates and local regulation.

Relocation and eviction: The Act contains specific provisions dealing with relocation, eviction and seizure/reclaiming of goods. Local authorities must act within the statutory framework and the applicable vending plan, rules and scheme.

Grievances and appeals: The Act provides mechanisms for appeal and grievance/dispute resolution. The competent forum and procedural requirements may depend on the rules and scheme operating in the relevant jurisdiction.

This page is an informational guide to the Act. For a particular dispute, notice, eviction action or vending-certificate issue, the current State/UT rules, scheme, notifications and local vending plan should also be checked.