Latest news with #Pakistani-Hindu
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Plea to halt demolition of refugee camp rejected
NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC has turned down a plea asking the Delhi Development Authority not to remove or demolish a refugee camp set up by Pakistani-Hindu migrants at Majnu Ka Tila, unless they are first given another place to live. Justice Dharmesh Sharma, who delivered the verdict on May 30, made it clear that the petitioner, Ravi Ranjan Singh, and others living in similar conditions, have 'no right to continue to occupy the area in question.' The Court also lifted the interim protection it had granted on March 13 last year, which had barred the DDA from taking action against Singh. The refugee settlement in question lies in the Yamuna floodplains, a highly sensitive ecological zone. The Court noted that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has already given clear instructions to government bodies like the DDA to reclaim such areas from illegal occupation and to begin work on restoring the Yamuna's ecological health.
India Gazette
31-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi HC rejects plea to halt demolition of Pakistani-Hindu refugee camp
New Delhi [India], May 31 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has rejected a petition seeking to restrain the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) from demolishing the Pakistani-Hindu refugee camp at Majnu Ka Tila until alternative land is allocated to its residents. The court acknowledged its sincere attempts to engage with relevant authorities to facilitate the rehabilitation and relocation of the refugees. However, these efforts remained unproductive, largely due to bureaucratic delays, particularly on the part of the Union of India. Despite the humanitarian concerns, the court clarified that framing policy for refugee relief is beyond its jurisdiction. In a judgment delivered on Friday, Justice Dharmesh Sharma ruled that the interim order issued on March 12, 2024, stands vacated. The court further stated that the petitioner, Ravi Ranjan Singh, along with other similarly placed refugees, 'have no right to continue to occupy the area in question,' thereby dismissing their plea to halt the eviction. The bench emphasised the necessity of safeguarding the ecologically sensitive Yamuna floodplains. It noted that environmental protection measures align with directives from the Supreme Court, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and the Delhi High Court itself. These actions aim to preserve ecological integrity and uphold the fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment for both current and future generations. Given the fragile state of the Yamuna River, the court asserted that any interference with its restoration efforts cannot be justified. It ruled that humanitarian considerations cannot override environmental imperatives, as such exemptions would delay critical public projects. The petition, filed by Singh, highlighted the plight of nearly 800 Hindu refugees from Pakistan. It urged the court to direct the DDA to refrain from demolition until alternative land was allocated in accordance with the government's policy under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. The plea also called for embankments along the Yamuna to protect such settlements and religious structures, citing precedents like the Akshardham Temple and the Commonwealth Games Village. (ANI)
