A division bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Surinder Singh observed: 'We had in our earlier orders noted that the shopkeepers are willing to pay small fine for encroaching road and the time has come to ensure penalties are levied upon them, such as penal provision like being sent to jail or cancelling of the licence to run a shop.'

Shimla, called the 'Queen of Hills' by the British, is today a picture of fallen glory, inflicted with the malaise of overpopulation, deteriorating civic amenities and haphazard constructions.

The historic Ridge, an open space just above the Mall, has also become a hub of commercial activities.