Aadhaar card mandatory for licence to set up roadside bunk shops: Madras HC

In an order passed recently, Justice S Vaidyanathan of the Madras High Court directed that those who apply for licences to set up bunk shops by roadsides must furnish a copy of their Aadhaar card to the concerned authorities..A common order was passed last December in a batch of writ petitions filed by a number of persons claiming to have been forced to run from pillar to post to obtain licences for their bunk shops in various areas..The Court was informed by the Corporation of Chennai that there were specific Vending/Hawking Committees that had been constituted for the purpose of issuing licenses in respective zones..A statement submitted to the Court by the Corporation disclosed that there were fifteen zones within the Corporation limits, split into two hundred divisions. While examining the statement, however, the Court noted that the names, addresses etc. of the persons to whom bunk shops were allotted were not on record..“On a perusal of the above Statement, it is seen that it does not contain the names of persons to whom bunk shops were allotted by the officials or their residential address or the persons, whom the aggrieved persons approached and made representations before the appropriate authority…”.The Court ultimately directed that circulars be issued zone-wise, intimating bunk shop vendors of the concerned authority who they were required to approach, in order to procure licenses to set shop. The concerned authorities were directed to dispose of the representations made by the applicants within a month from the date of preferring the application..The authorities have been further directed to ensure that bunk shops are preferably not situated near schools, colleges and hospitals, and further that they do not sell hazardous products like cigarettes..Before parting with the order, however, the Court also saw it fit to direct that prospective applicants furnish copies of their Aadhaar card with the concerned zonal authority, so that multiple shops are not set up by the same person..The order states,.“Those who are interested in availing a shop by approaching the Vending/Hawking Committee, must produce a copy of their Aadhaar Card, failing which, no indulgence need be shown to them. This will prevent duplication of shops in the name of the same person.”.The order is silent on what course of action should be taken in the event that applicants do not possess an Aadhaar Card..Recently, the Madurai Bench had directed the Court registry to collect the Aadhaar card copy of the litigant at the time of filing PILs. However, the Court also stated that litigants could furnish their ration card or voter’s identity, if they have not applied for Aadhaar.