Court bars govt from using force against vegetable traders

HYDERABAD: The Sindh High Court (SHC) barred the provincial government on Friday from using force against traders. The order comes a day after the imposition of Section 144 to stop trade in the old vegetable market in Hyderabad.

The court suspended the home department’s notification from Tuesday, which had imposed a ban on trade activity in the market from January 29 until the next court hearing on February 26.

The decision made by the bench, comprising Justice Muhamad Faisal Kamal Alam and Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar, reads, “The petitioners, genuine allottees and occupants at the existing Sabzi Mandi will not be prevented from carrying out their lawful business and trade.”

The home department’s notification had banned the assembly of traders from the daily auction of fruit and vegetable in the old market on Hali Road. Vehicles carrying vegetables were also banned from the market, which supplies produce to Hyderabad and parts of the Jamshoro district.

Meanwhile, the traders had been asked to move their businesses to the new and larger market in Hala Naka. However, this shift has been met with great opposition due to issues of multiple allotments and infrastructural deficiencies in the new market, which has been delayed from completion for several decades.

The bench observed that the grievances of the traders were being aggravated by the imposition of Section 144 on the old market, affecting their livelihoods.

The court sought replies from the chief secretary, agriculture secretary, deputy commissioner and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2020.