Delhi High Court raps Railways over Shakur Basti demolition, says 'no lessons learnt from past mistakes'

Terming the Shakur Basti demolition as “inhuman” the High Court said that Railways had not learnt lessons from past mistakes.

New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Monday came down heavily on the Railways over the demolition drive in Shakur Basti that left hundreds homeless in the capital city.

Terming the incident as “inhuman” the High Court said that Railways had not learnt lessons from past mistakes, as per ANI.

Hearing a PIL filed by Congress leader Ajay Maken, the court observed that the Railways was in a hurry to demolish the shanties in Shakur basti.

The apex court further observed that Shakur Basti demolition drive by Railways left lives of many in danger and that one child also died.

The high court bench further asked the counsel whether a survey was done and proper rehabilitation arrangements were made before the demolition drive. To which the counsel was unable to give a reply.

The court also issued notices to the Railways, Railways Police, DUSIB seeking information over the demolition drive.

It also sought details of the Basti residents and directed government agencies to make a coordinated action plan for rehabilitation. The court asked all agencies to distribute blankets, food and medicines.

A six-month-old child was found dead on Saturday in Shakur Basti after being suffocated under a heap of clothes. This lead to the Delhi government blaming the Railways for the death. However, the Railways has denied that the death was a result of the demolition drive.