Kolkata : The Calcutta High Court has declined to grant interim protection to street vendors against the eviction drive at Howrah's century-old Manglahat market.

Presiding over a petition by the Howrah Hawkers’ Samity, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya ruled that vendors failed to establish a prima facie right to conduct business by completely blocking public thoroughfares and pavements. The court questioned whether the right to livelihood could entirely override the general public’s right to clear footpaths and roads.

While the hawkers' association argued that the sudden police action violated the Street Vendors Act, the state government maintained that clearing the sprawl is essential to ease severe traffic gridlocks near Howrah.

Refusing an immediate stay on the anti-encroachment drive, the High Court directed the state and municipal authorities to file their affidavits in opposition within two weeks, setting the stage for further legal scrutiny.