Latest news with #DelhiSlum&JJRehabilitationandRelocationPolicy
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Homes bulldozed at Delhi's Bhoomiheen Camp — minutes before HC heard petitions to stay demolition
Minutes before pleas to stay the demolition at Bhoomiheen Camp, in Southeast Delhi's Govindpuri, were heard by a vacation bench in the High Court on Monday, civic authorities had already started razing hutments. The two petitioners in the case lost their homes. When the petition was taken up, Justices Tushar Rao Gedela and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar refused to halt the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) action while issuing notices to the authorities. The two-judge bench's refusal on Monday came days after the HC dismissed a clutch of petitions by slum dwellers against the impending eviction and demolition. Justice Dharmesh Sharma, on May 26 and May 30, had rejected the pleas. The nearly three-decades-old slum cluster was home to migrants from UP, Bihar and West Bengal, among others, the single-judge bench was told during the hearings. The inhabitants included women who worked as domestic help, labourers in factories and local shops, and others who had meagre sources of income. The petitioners had moved the court first in 2023, claiming that the DDA, in 'an arbitrary and illegal manner, proposed to demolish their jhuggi-jhopdis'. The proposal, they contended, was contrary to the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015. It was contended that the surveys for their rehabilitation were conducted contrary to the policy, 'by an obscure, outsourced agency appointed by DDA'. It was also pointed out that due processes were not followed. Justice Sharma, in the May 26 ruling against 44 dwellers who moved court, and the verdict for which was reserved last year on December 6, 2024, held that the DDA has 'substantially adhered to all prescribed procedures in surveying the JJ clusters in question'. Refusing to set aside the survey, Justice Sharma emphasised that the petitioners have 'no vested right' to rehabilitation and that the earlier court-ordered interim stay on demolition 'has not only hindered the timely execution of the rehabilitation project but also resulted in a significant escalation of public expenditure.' The court also recorded that as per the DDA, 'over Rs 835.88 crore has been expended in the process of in-situ rehabilitation of JJ dwellers of Bhoomiheen Camp,' adding that 'it cannot be overlooked that the rehabilitation process is time-sensitive, and any further extension of timelines would result in additional expenditure of valuable public funds and delay the rehabilitation of other clusters and JJ dwellers.' Appeals by two petitioners from the earlier round of litigation — Manjoor Ali and Kashmir Lal — challenging Justice Sharma's order of May 26 and May 30, respectively, were before the vacation bench on Monday. Moments before their petition was taken up, their houses were razed. The demolition action, pending the appeal, was highlighted before the division bench. It, however, refused to stay the demolition action, orally remarking that it is being undertaken in compliance with the single judge's order. DDA also told the court that the dwellings of the petitioners were demolished. The court has kept the matter next for consideration on July 7, when the rehabilitation issue is likely to be taken up.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu govt ready to assist 'Madrasi Camp' residents in Delhi if they choose to return
A resident reacts during a demolition drive at Madrasi Camp following court demolition orders in New Delhi on Sunday CHENNAI: If residents of Delhi's 'Madrasi Camp', who are natives of Tamil Nadu (TN), choose to return to their home districts, necessary assistance shall be extended to them, the TN govt said on Sunday. A demolition was carried out at Madrasi Camp in south Delhi's Jangpura on Sunday to remove illegal settlements. The action follows Delhi high court 's directive to remove slums along the Barapullah drain. TN govt said all legal avenues available to them have now been exhausted. "Comprehensive support, including assistance for livelihood and other essential needs, will be extended to them. This assistance will be facilitated through the offices of the concerned district collectors to ensure timely and effective implementation," the state govt said, in an official release. Numerous occupants of the unauthorised settlement, predominantly inhabited by people from Tamil Nadu, expressed their opposition to the clearance. According to the govt, the Madrasi Camp comprises 370 slum dwellings and is predominantly inhabited by people of Tamil Nadu origin. Delhi high court had said the camp was an unauthorised encroachment on the bank of the Barapullah drain. "This has led to obstruction and blockage of the drain, causing significant waterlogging in the surrounding areas, especially during the monsoon season." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Descubra ofertas de voos imperdíveis Voos | Anúncios de Pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo Accordingly, the court directed that eligible residents be rehabilitated and relocated under the provisions of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) Act and the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015. In compliance with the directions of the court, a survey was undertaken by the Eligibility Determination Committee to assess the eligibility of all residents for rehabilitation and relocation. Govt authorities posted a list of qualified families on the settlement walls on April 12. Of the 370 families, around 190 met the eligibility criteria. These beneficiaries were allotted residential units under the Economically Weaker Section category of the DDA in Narela. The court set a timeline for residents to vacate the camp between May 20 and 31, with demolition scheduled to commence from June 1. "As per the instructions of the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi has been tasked with actively facilitating and overseeing coordination efforts. Reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the welfare of people of Tamil Nadu origin residing outside the state, the govt of Tamil Nadu is in active coordination with the residents of Madrasi Camp to ensure that every possible support is extended to them without delay," the govt said. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj pointed out that the demolition came immediately after the Delhi CM claimed during an event to celebrate 100 days of BJP in govt that not a single jhuggi would be touched. "Within 24 hours of CM Rekha Gupta's promise, bulldozers arrived at Barapullah's Madrasi Camp and flattened hundreds of homes," he said.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
300 houses razed at Delhi's Madrasi Camp
The Capital's civic agencies on Sunday morning razed over 300 structures in a demolition drive at the Madrasi Camp slum cluster in Jangpura, south Delhi, to facilitate civic works, especially cleaning the Barapullah drain in the run-up to monsoon, following a Delhi high court order on the issue. Despite the drive being put on hold twice and eligible residents having been rehabilitated, the task force of civic agencies— comprising members from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB)—deployed a heavy police contingent due to protests by residents. The drive started at 7.30am. Anil Banka, district magistrate of South East Delhi, who oversaw the action, said it was carried out as per the court's directive. 'The Barapullah drain has become narrow; there were obstacles in cleaning the drainage. During heavy rains, the area floods due to these obstructions and its flow is interrupted. We have allotted flats in Narela to 189 families living here; 181 families were found ineligible,' he said. In an order on May 9, the Delhi high court allowed the demolition of the slum cluster encroaching on public land near the old Barapullah bridge to facilitate timely clearance of the drain. The court directed DDA, MCD, DUSIB and Public Works Department (PWD) to hold two camps from May 10 to 12 to hand over possession letters of flats in Narela, and sanction loans for payment of ₹1.12 lakh, as per the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015. With the majority of residents living here immigrants from Tamil Nadu, the state government of Tamil Nadu offered help. 'Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi has been tasked with actively facilitating and overseeing coordination efforts and the residents of Madrasi Camp will receive every possible support without delay. As directed by the chief minister of Tamil Nadu... support will be given to those who choose to return to their native districts in Tamil Nadu. Comprehensive support, including assistance for livelihood and other essential needs, will be extended to them,' the Tamil Nadu department of information and public relations (DIPR) said in a statement. Residents who have been living here, however, bemoaned the demolition drive and their relocation. Kamala, 40, who works as domestic help at houses in the vicinity, said her family could not afford to find a house on a short-term notice in the vicinity. ' We were living here for more than three decades, my parents also used to live here, they died here. If we take a flat on rent nearby, it will be in the range of ₹12-15,000 per month at least; we don't have that much money,' she said. She said that her family shifted some belongings to the flat allotted in Narela, but they were stolen. Balaji, who is in his 50s, said that he has lived in the settlement his whole life. 'We got a flat in Narela, but we have not gotten any food there. Narela is really far, what work will we even get there? We are facing bad times right now. It has been two days since I last ate,' he said. The main Opposition party in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), attacked the state government over the demolition drive. Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Atishi said in a post on X: 'BJP leaders came to stay in Madrasi Camp and they got the people to fill out the 'Jahan jhuggy, wahin makaan' forms. As soon as the BJP government came, they bulldozed these slums. Only a handful of people were given houses, that too in Narela. Most of the people have come on the is the truth of BJP…' However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders defended the move, and said it was not an administrative move but a court order. 'BJP still stands by its policy of 'jahan jhuggi wahin makan,' but the slum settlement of the Madrasi Camp on the Barapullah drain had, for years, prevented proper cleaning of the drain. This had become a major cause of waterlogging in several kilometers of the surrounding area during monsoon season,' BJP Delhi chief Virendra Sachdeva said. He said that the order to raze the settlement was issued during the AAP's regime. 'The same AAP leaders who had earlier issued removal orders through the PWD are now trying to provoke slum cluster government provided them with alternative flats and a better life instead of simply displacing them.'
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ready to assist Madrasi Camp residents if they choose to return to state: TN govt
Chennai, If residents of Delhi's "Madrasi Camp", who are natives of Tamil Nadu, choose to return to their home district, necessary assistance shall be extended to them, the state government said on Sunday. Citing the demolition exercise being carried out in the Madrasi Camp area in Delhi from Sunday, following an order of the Delhi High Court, the Tamil Nadu government said all legal avenues available to them have now been exhausted. Madrasi Camp is a slum settlement located along the bank of the Barapullah Jangpura drain, near Nizamuddin Railway Station in South Delhi. In an official release, the government said that it would assist the residents of Madrasi Camp who choose to return to their native districts in Tamil Nadu and this is in keeping with the orders of Chief Minister M K Stalin. "Comprehensive support, including assistance for livelihood and other essential needs, will be extended to them. This assistance will be facilitated through the offices of the concerned District Collectors to ensure timely and effective implementation." According to the government, the Madrasi Camp comprises 370 slum dwellings and is predominantly inhabited by persons of Tamil Nadu origin. The Delhi High Court had said that the camp was an unauthorised encroachment on the bank of the Barapullah drain. "This has led to obstruction and blockage of the drain, causing significant waterlogging in the surrounding areas, especially during the monsoon season." Accordingly, the court directed that eligible residents be rehabilitated and relocated under the provisions of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board Act and the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015. In compliance with the directions of the court, a survey was undertaken by the Eligibility Determination Committee to assess the eligibility of all residents for rehabilitation and relocation. Pursuant to this exercise, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board has determined that 215 out of the 370 residents are eligible for allotment. Accordingly, these eligible beneficiaries have been allotted residential units under the Economically Weaker Section category of the Delhi Development Authority located in Narela, Delhi. Furthermore, all legal petitions filed by the residents of Madrasi Camp have been adjudicated and disposed of by the High Court of Delhi, vide order dated 09.05.2025. The said order mandates the commencement of demolition activities at Madrasi Camp with effect from 01.06.2025. Thus, all legal avenues available to the residents for retaining the unauthorised constructions at the site have been duly exhausted. "As per the instructions of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi has been tasked with actively facilitating and overseeing coordination efforts. Reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the welfare of persons of Tamil Nadu origin residing outside the State, the Government of Tamil Nadu is in active coordination with the residents of Madrasi Camp to ensure that every possible support is extended to them without delay," the government said.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Delhi HC bins plea against demolition of tenements of Hindu refugees from Pakistan
The Delhi High Court has rejected a plea seeking a stay on the proposed demolition of an illegal colony set up by Hindu refugees from Pakistan along the Yamuna river in north Delhi till an alternative plot of land is allotted to the affected people. The court also vacated an interim stay it had granted on March 12 against the demolition. Justice Dharmesh Sharma on Friday rejected the plea filed by a man named Ravi Ranjan Singh, seeking orders to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to allot the refugees a different spot in the city as per the provisions in the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, before demolishing their tenements. Mr. Singh argued that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was framed with the idea of providing Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from the neighbouring countries, to help them escape religious persecution. 'Must be a citizen' However, the court said that it 'has no hesitation in holding that the petitioner is not entitled to the reliefs sought by way of the present petition' because to be eligible to avail of the provisions of the Delhi government policy, the person seeking relief 'must first and foremost be a citizen of India'. 'On account of their nationality, the Pakistani refugees cannot be rehabilitated under the DUSIB policy,' it added. The court asked the petitioner, as well as the other refugees, to first acquire Indian citizenship, adding that it could 'be done online with ease' and asked the Delhi State Legal Service Authority to help the refugees to comply with the necessary legal formalities. Remarks against Centre The court added that 'even Indian citizens cannot claim alternate allotment as an absolute right, particularly in cases where the land they occupy falls under specially prohibited areas like Zone 'O' of Delhi, i.e., the Yamuna floodplains'. Justice Sharma also made observations regarding the court's attempts to engage with the concerned authorities to facilitate the rehabilitation and relocation of the refugees, saying all its 'efforts have been unfruitful, seemingly due to the classic case of bureaucratic buck-passing, particularly on the part of the Union of India'. The judge added, 'Nevertheless, this court cannot undertake the exercise of framing a policy to ameliorate the plight of the refugees.'
