The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued fresh directions to the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories to ensure that street vendors, hawkers, traditional artisans, and small local traders are not unnecessarily displaced or prevented from earning their livelihoods during the upcoming festive season — covering Navratri, Diwali, and Chhath Puja in October–November 2025.

The Commission's intervention comes amid a pattern of complaints received in previous years about arbitrary removal of vendors, seizure of goods, and alleged harassment by local authorities during high-footfall festive periods.

Who Is Covered Under the Directions

The NHRC directions cast a wide protective net. They cover street vendors, footpath traders, hawkers, Kumhars (traditional potters), local diya and murti makers and sellers, pottery sellers, small sweet vendors, malies (flower vendors), local vegetable sellers, rangoli colour sellers, and other similarly placed small artisans and traders. The Commission has made clear that these groups should not be displaced, removed, or otherwise prevented from carrying on their traditional trades during the festive period.

Key Protections Mandated

Local administrations have been directed to facilitate traditional trades, safeguard vendor livelihoods, and actively promote locally made products in line with the government's 'Vocal for Local' initiative. The Commission has specifically barred unnecessary or arbitrary seizure of goods and directed that any action against vendors must be taken strictly in accordance with law, with due regard to their right to livelihood.

Where relocation is unavoidable — due to emergency access requirements or genuine fire and public safety concerns — local authorities have been asked to provide suitable and accessible alternative vending spaces, as far as practicable, without adversely affecting the vendors' income.

Action Against Harassment and Extortion

The NHRC has separately flagged concerns over reported incidents of harassment, extortion, coercion, and undue interference faced by vendors at the hands of local officials. It has directed that any such complaint be promptly examined by the competent authority and appropriate action taken wherever warranted, in accordance with law.

Background and Implementation Timeline

The current directions follow a similar intervention by the Commission last year, when an NHRC bench headed by Priyank Kanoongo took cognisance of complaints regarding unnecessary removal of hawkers, imposition of fines, and alleged seizure of goods during the festive season. Finding that intervention was again needed in 2025, the Commission issued fresh, nationally applicable directions.

Chief Secretaries have been asked to ensure wide circulation and effective implementation of the directions across all District Magistrates, Municipal Commissioners, Commissioners and Superintendents of Police, and other concerned authorities throughout the festive period. All states and UTs have also been directed to submit additional or complete Action Taken Reports (ATRs) in pending matters by 18 October.

With the festive calendar approaching its peak, the effectiveness of the Commission's directions will depend on whether district-level administrations translate national-level human rights mandates into on-ground protection for India's most economically vulnerable informal workers.