The Madras High Court on Thursday (January 8, 2026) ordered that only 300 shops be allowed on the entire stretch of the Marina beach in Chennai at the rate of 100 shops each for selling eatables, toys, and souvenirs. It also ordered the allotment of these shops through drawal of lots under the supervision of a retired judge of the High Court.

A special Division Bench of Justices R. Suresh Kumar and A.D. Jagadish Chandira, constituted to hear town vending related cases, passed the orders after disapproving of a revised plan submitted by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Thursday to reduce the number of shops on the beach from 1,417 to 1,006.

Reduce number of shops on Marina Beach, Madras HC tells Chennai Corporation

Don’t turn Marina beach into Marina bazaar, Madras High Court tells Chennai Corporation

‘Beach should be for children, not hawkers’