On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra government to print identification cards for authorized hawkers, emphasizing that this initiative is crucial for the convenience of the public. The court noted that while implementing this in non-hawking zones may be feasible, the real challenge lies in areas where licensed and illegal hawkers operate together. Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata questioned the government's reluctance to allocate funds for the printing of one lakh ID cards, highlighting that it is a small expense compared to the larger budgets for various schemes. The court also mandated that provisions be made to address the issue of fake ID cards among hawkers. During the hearing, the court suggested a QR code-based identification system to enhance transparency and asked the BMC about measures taken against illegal hawkers, particularly those allegedly from Bangladesh. The court is currently reviewing multiple petitions, including one from the Goregaon Merchants Association, which represents around 1,200 shopkeepers and has raised concerns about the enforcement of street-vending laws and the associated chaos in pedestrian areas, especially around the Goregaon West railway station. The court had previously ordered a verification of all hawkers and their assistants across the city to identify illegal vendors and take necessary actions.