New Delhi: Why are authorities shifting slum dwellers from near the Prime Minister’s residence to Savda Ghera, 45 kms away, when over 24,000 homes constructed to rehabilitate such evictees lie unused nearby? Delhi High Court Monday demanded answers from the Central and state govts on the condition of 24,284 units built in 2024, that are in various states of disrepair and disuse.“Shifting aged inhabitants 45km away when accommodation is available nearby, should it not be examined? This element of arbitrariness has to be checked…who is responsible for these houses lying vacant? Both govts jointly spent nearly Rs 2,000 crore on this project, but those are not available for these slum dwellers,” a bench of chief justice DK Upadhyaya and justice Tejas Karia orally observed, while dealing with appeals against eviction of more than 700 families of residents of the three slum clusters near the PM residence.During the hearing, the counsel for slum dwellers pointed out that the Delhi govt had stated that more than 24,000 houses were constructed out of more than 50,000 units envisaged for housing eligible persons evicted from govt land. HC then asked Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) why it remained silent on these flats and asked it to file a detailed report on their condition, location and occupancy.“If this is not squandering public money, what else is? We will fix responsibility. These could have easily accommodated thousands of families of these petitioners, but you say these are unlivable. Why did you make them then?” an irked bench asked DUSIB when the counsel said many of the flats are in low-lying areas and were constructed under a different scheme.“The rights of the petitioners flow from Article 21, which is at a much higher pedestal,” the court reminded the counsels for Centre and DUSIB who blamed the previous govt’s failure to ensure occupancy of flats. The govt counsels also argued that the petitioners can’t claim these flats which were envisaged for other affected dwellers.HC had earlier ordered that authorities cannot demolish houses of those dwelling in the Race Course slum clusters who have not accepted alternative accommodation and relocated to Savda Ghera yet.It is hearing an appeal filed by certain residents of Bhai Ram Camp, DID Camp and Masjid Camp, assailing an order that had refused to interfere with their eviction from the area.The Centre has sought their eviction on the grounds that the slum clusters were in a protected zone, immediately next to an air force station, and the decision to remove unauthorised construction in the area was made to strengthen and secure defence infrastructure and for other important public and security purposes.It had stated that in-situ rehabilitation was not possible in the present case owing to lack of any alternative accommodation in the vicinity, and a decision was made to shift 717 dwellers in three slums to Savda Ghera instead.
