A group of 97 fruit traders alleged that they have been denied space in Chennai’s Koyambedu market, even 17 years after allotment of shops to them, The New Indian Express reported. 

In an order by the Madras High Court in April, the court had asked the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to consider their petition seeking allotment and to pass an order within four weeks. 

However, the traders allege that it has been seven months and they have not got any response from CMDA.

In July 2015, a judgement by the HC had stated that shops would not obstruct light and air for other vendors in the market and also would not block the entrance for other shops.

In 1991, CMDA had allotted shops on the pavements of the wholesale fruit market to traders belonging to Dr Ambedkar Small Shops Traders Association. 

After this, other associations moved the court seeking to quash the allotment, alleging that these shops would obstruct light and air for their shops in the market, the TNIE report adds.

However, the traders believe that the opposition is due to the fact that they were Dalits. Veeraswamy, association president told TNIE that the opposition is by one particular community and alleged that an official from the CMDA was helping them.

The court in April had left the decision to the CMDA to decide on the petition of these 97 traders. The traders have said that they would not take forcible possession of the shops.