SC stays proposed demolition of slums in Delhi's Sarojini Nagar till May 2

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has stayed the proposed demolition of slums in Delhi's Sarojini Nagar till May 2. It asked the government to be humane while taking coercive measures against the poor. The move comes days after the Jahangirpuri demolitions.

"We record the submission of the additional solicitor general that coercive steps will not be taken till the next date of hearing," a short order passed by Justices KM Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy said on Monday. The order came on a petition by school-goings kids, whose plea before the Delhi high court against the proposed demolitions was rejected.

More than 200 shanties would be affected by the demolitions. The slum dwellers have sought rehabilitation under re-settlement laws. A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had decades ago ruled that the right to shelter was part of the right to life and no one should be evicted without adequate compensation or rehabilitation. The rule has, however, been violated by the executive often. Successive governments have said land was unavailable or costly and refused to rehabilitate or compensate slum dwellers while evicting them from government land.





Arguing their case, senior advocate Vikas Singh said that over 1,000 would be rendered homeless. Board examinations were around the corner and demolition at this juncture would disrupt the education of children from the slums. There are precedents of rehabilitation. The Delhi government backed the slum dwellers saying that they were protected by the 'jhuggi' protection scheme.

The Centre, however, urged the court to only protect those who moved the court. The court did not agree to it. "You say that you have to vacate the land. Now these are people who have come from all over the country. They cannot afford housing elsewhere. You can't just throw them out. As a modern government, you have to engage with them. Treat them humanely," Justice Joseph said. The bench asked the Centre for its views and posted the case for next Monday.