Saturday, 19 AUGUST 2023 | PNS | NAINITAL
The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the Nainital district administration and Nainital municipality to take action against those operating food vans without valid permission in Bhawali, Nainital, Haldwani and Kaladhungi under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The division bench of justices Sharad Kumar Sharma and Ravindra Maithani issued this direction in the matter which the court took cognisance of and took up as a public interest litigation. The court also directed the municipality and the circle officer concerned to remove the illegal constructions around food vans without delay.
It will be recalled that on February 16, the HC took cognisance of the food vans being operated in the Nainital area. The court had then directed the district magistrate and municipality executive officer to clarify the situation. The court had also asked the DM as to under which rules were permissions granted for operating the food vans. The DM had then informed the court that though licenses had been granted for operating the food vans, there was no such provision in the Motor Vehicles Act. In the PIL, the court also took cognisance of food vans littering and also serving alcohol at tourist spots. It had also observed that owners of the food vans remove the tyres of the vans and had started building shacks and even cemented walls around the vans. Neither the Forest department nor the Public Works Department was taking cognisance of this situation. Such food vans were also causing traffic jams, so such vehicles should remain mobile.
