HC asks Delhi govt, cops not to displace slum on NH 24

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today asked the AAP government and the city police not to displace the residents of an east Delhi slum who have been served notice of eviction for widening of the National Highway (NH) 24.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to maintain status quo with regard to the slum- dwellers who have been served notices on January 13.

The bench asked the authorities to first verify the documents of the people, who claim that they have been staying there for years and need to be rehabilitated under the policy, before starting the eviction proceedings.

It has appointed a local commissioner to assist the slum- dwellers in that area and the authorities for the benefit of rehabilitation.

The court fixed the matter for further hearing next week by when the commissioner has to file their reports.

The court was hearing a petition filed by eleven slum dwellers fearing eviction from the Rajeev Camp at Mandawali in East Delhi where they claim to have been staying for years together.

The slum dwellers in their petition have claimed that the DUSIB wrongly held them ineligible and did not work for their rehabilitation as per the policy.

They also contended that after the survey, their hutments were razed to the ground on February 9 forcing them to stay in tents and tin sheds.

The road which is being widened, is the most congested section of the highway that connects Delhi with Uttar Pradesh and traffic snarls are a regular feature. This portion will be expanded to 14 lanes.