New Delhi, May 2 (). The Delhi High Court on Tuesday declined to interfere in the demolition of slums near Pragati Maidan and gave one month’s time to the occupants of those structures to vacate.
Justice Pratibha M. Singh said the authorities can proceed with the demolition after May 31. He also submitted that the petitioners should be given alternate accommodation in the shelter home as per the applicable norms.
The residents, in their petitions, have challenged a demolition notice, which was issued to them earlier this year.
The court said: The petitioners are given one month’s time to move to the shelter home as per the applicable norms. After May 31, the authorities can take demolition action. By that date all the belongings of the petitioners will be removed.
The court said that the slums, which were along Bhairon Marg, were not part of the cluster notified by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and hence, no rehabilitation could be directed.
Recording that the sketch shows that the slums of the petitioners are along the Bhairon Marg road, the court said that since they are not part of the recognized slums, the court is not inclined to interfere in the demolition or eviction.
The court said: As per law, the clear position today is that unless a slum is part of the recognized cluster of DUSIB, no rehabilitation can be directed. Further, as per the map produced by the respondent, there is a considerable distance between the recognized habitation and these slums.
While staying the demolition of slums in February, the court had sought the opinion of the Central and Delhi government officials in the matter.
SGK/ANM
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