High Court bans coloured lights at Chandigarh veggie markets

Chandigarh, July 15

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has virtually banned the use of coloured lights by vegetable and fruit vendors in the city. Justice Rajbir Sehrawat of the High Court has directed that only “white” light would be used before asking the UT Administration to step in.

Justice Sehrawat asserted an aspect that came up during the hearing of a pending matter was that the vendors in the Sector 26 grain market, weekly ‘apni mandis’ and sector mandis used “coloured lights” in the evening.

These lights were in sync with the colour of vegetables and fruits and the entire exercise was undertaken to hide the true characteristics of the vegetables and fruits being sold by them.

This, Justice Sehrawat asserted, led to the fleecing of the purchasers. “This practice also deserves to be addressed; and it deserves to be ensured no lights other than white lights are used by the vegetable and fruits vendors,” Justice Sehrawat asserted.

Before parting with the case, Justice Sehrawat directed the UT Administration would also file a report regarding the steps taken for ensuring “only white lights are used by the vegetable and fruits vendors; in any kind of vegetable and fruits markets”.

The Bench was hearing a petition filed by Amit Kumar Bansal and other petitioners against the Chandigarh Administration and other respondents.

The Bench, during the previous hearing, was told by an SHO letters had been written to the authorities of the Chandigarh Administration and the Market Committee for providing details of the persons responsible for supervising the grain market and its parking management. However, that information was not forthcoming.

Appearing before the Bench during the resumed hearing, UT senior standing counsel Anil Mehta submitted “whatever material was available, including the name of the persons responsible for supervising the Grain Market, Sector 26, Chandigarh, has been provided to the police. Now, it is for the police to proceed further as per the law”. The case will now come up on September 15 for further hearing. One of the respondents was represented by advocate KS Dadwal.

Characteristics of produce being hidden

• In evenings, vendors at mandis, including Sector 26 grain market, weekly ‘apni mandis’, etc. use coloured lights matching with the produce
• The HC observed coloured lights were in sync with colour of veggies and fruits and it was aimed at hiding true characteristics of produce being sold
• “This practice deserves to be addressed; and it deserves to be ensured no lights other than white lights are used by vendors,” said Justice Rajbir Sehrawat