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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Delhi High Court to examine appeal of Bhoomiheen Camp residents on rehabilitation rejection
New Delhi: Delhi High Court has agreed to examine next month an appeal filed by individual residents challenging the rejection of their claim for rehabilitation after being removed from Bhoomiheen Camp in south Delhi following a demolition drive by DDA. Justices Girish Kathpalia and Tejas Karia directed that the appeals be listed on July 7 before the designated roster bench for hearing. The petitions also challenged the green signal given to DDA by a single-judge bench of HC to remove encroachments and clear the land near Kalkaji area. However, by the time the appeals could be taken up last week, DDA had already razed several single and double-storey structures. "At the outset, learned counsel for appellants submits that these applications have become infructuous because the respondent demolished the premises. Accordingly, the applications are disposed of as infructuous," the bench recorded, disposing of the plea that sought urgent relief. In their appeal, many of those removed from the camp and adjoining slums questioned their exclusion from the list of residents found eligible for rehabilitation by DDA. They also challenged the rejection of their documentary proof by the land-owning agency, due to which they were found ineligible for rehabilitation. DDA carried out a demolition drive in Bhoomiheen Camp after HC, in orders on May 26 and June 6, dismissed a batch of petitions of over 400 petitioners. According to DDA, based on DUSIB policy, which includes dwellers staying in JJ colonies before Jan 1, 2015, 1,862 households from the camp were found eligible and allotted EWS category flats at Kalkaji Extension.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi HC issues notice to Railway, DUSIB on PIL against notice for demolition of settlement colony on track
New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has issued notice to Northern Railways and others in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the demolition notice for a settlement colony (Chander Shekhar Azad) constructed along the railway track in the Wazirpur area. The division bench of Justices Tejas Karia and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta on Monday issued notice to Northern Railways and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). The High Court has granted them one week to file their affidavits. Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has also been impleaded as a respondent at the oral request of the counsel for the petitioner. After issuing notices, the matter was listed for a hearing on July 3, 2025. NGO Shine Women Welfare Association has moved a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking quashing of demolition notices of May 19, 2025 and June 05, 2025. It has also sought an order to provide rehabilitation to the affected parties before taking any coercive action against Chander Shekhar Azad Colony residents. During the earlier hearing, the counsel for Northern Railways showed certain photographs supporting the submission that the illegal encroachments along the railway tracks are so dangerous. A number of those constructions obstruct visibility and traffic signals, which can cause a serious risk of train accidents, the counsel said. Almost all structures across the railway track are built up to the first floor, and there is not sufficient distance between those structures and the railway track, the council added. It was also submitted that the demolition action is being carried out under the directions passed by a Division Bench of this Court in another petition. Counsel for DUSIB submitted that even according to the policy sought to be invoked by the petitioner, no protection can be granted where the demolition action is being carried out on the basis of a judicial order. A PIL has been moved through advocates Anuradha Singh and Rishi Nandy. The petitioner has stated that this notice calls for the eviction of residents of Chander Shekhar Azad Colony, Wazirpur Industrial Area, citing safety hazards to railway operations. The demolition drive began on June 2, 2025. Counsel Anuradha Singh contended that these demolitions are being carried out arbitrarily, without any form of rehabilitation, in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, and contrary to established legal and policy safeguards. The plea said the settlement, comprising more than 3000 houses, is officially listed at Serial No 100 in the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) list of 675 JJ Bastis. It added that most residents are engaged in low-income occupations such as domestic work, vending, and daily wage labour. A joint survey was conducted in 2015 by the Respondents, during which the residents submitted necessary documents to establish their eligibility for rehabilitation under the Delhi Slum and JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, the plea stated. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
DDA demolishes Bhoomiheen camp in South Delhi
At the crack of dawn on Wednesday, residents of Bhoomiheen camp in south Delhi's Kalkaji watched as bulldozers tore through their houses, where multiple generations of their families had lived. Only a field of rubble and dust could be seen where a sea of houses stood a day ago. The settlement — which first came up in the 70s ( according to residents) — was demolished five days after the Delhi high court dismissed all petitions filed by some camp residents against the demolition barring one. The process to remove the residents from the DDA-owned land first began in June 2023 but was halted when those who had not been rehabilitated filed writ petitions in the high court. However, this time around, the deed is done. 'We do not know what we will do. We have nowhere to go now,' said 43-year-old Manoj Tiwari, as he stared at the bulldozers in action. Tiwari, who runs a snack shop in the area, said that his family has not yet been allotted a house in Kalkaji. While DDA said that 1,862 households in the area were rehoused in Pocket A-14, Kalkaji extension in 2023, residents placed the total number of households at over 3,000. A DDA official told HT, 'Under in situ slum rehabilitation project at Kalkaji, after applying the eligibility criterion as per DUSIB's rehabilitation/relocation policy 2015, approved by the then government of Delhi, some residents were found to be eligible for rehabilitaion, and some were not.' According to policy, households included in voter lists from years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 (prior to January 1), and possess any of the valid documents such as passport, electricity bill, driving licence, among others, are eligible for alternative accommodation. A person's name should also appear in the voter list of the year of survey (2019), said the official. On June 6, the HC directed DDA to provide alternative housing to one of the petitioners, which the body said it has already done, and to re-examine 26 of the cases and pass speaking orders within six weeks. 'None of the petitioners has any legal right to continue occupying the JJ cluster incessantly, to the detriment of the public at large,' the court had said. Prakash Goswami, 44, a small goods vehicle driver who claimed that he was in Bhoomiheen camp, alleged that he was denied housing despite having all the documents. 'The officials said that since I did not vote in 2019, I am not eligible for a house. I had gone to Bihar at the time because my mother had died,' he said. Savita Tiwari, 36, who too was born in the camp, alleged that the 2019 survey wrongly mentioned that she did not possess a ration card. 'But I have a ration card. I have showed it to officials. I have shown it in court. Why am I not eligible for a house then?' Goswami, his wife and three children stood on Wednesday morning, along with the camp's hundreds of residents, and watched bulldozers flatten the colony. 'I don't know where we will sleep tonight,' he said. .
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
DDA issues eviction notices in Bhoomiheen JJ camp
New Delhi, The Delhi Development Authority has pasted fresh eviction notices at houses in the Bhoomiheen jhuggi-jhopri camp, warning encroachers to leave the spot within the next three days. The camp, where most residents are migrant workers, has faced demolition drives thrice in the past this year May and June and July of 2023. According to officials, only 1,862 households from the camp have been found eligible and were allotted economically weaker government accommodation. 'All the residents of Bhoomiheen Camp in Kalkaji Extension, are being informed that, as per the court's directions, illegal JJ clusters will be demolished,' the DDA eviction notice read. 'In this regard, three days June 8, 9 and 10 are being given. After this, the demolition drive will be carried out, DDA will not be responsible after that," it added. While there was no response from DDA to present queries, earlier on June 6, the land-owning agency had stated that it carried out demolition of jhuggis at Bhoomiheen Camp in May, following the dismissal of writ petitions by the Delhi High Court. According to the DDA, based on the DUSIB policy which includes dwellers staying in JJ colonies before January 1, 2015, 1,862 households were found eligible. The residents have to have documentary evidence showing their names in electoral rolls and other such identity documents as residents of the camp before the 2015 cut-off date, it said. "This action is crucial for reclaiming DDA land, completing housing projects for other JJ clusters in the vicinity, and preventing further illegal encroachments," the authority said. The DDA noted that about 1,618 jhuggi structures were present in the Bhoomiheen Camp. Of these, 935 jhuggi structures were demolished in the past, while the remaining 683 structures could not be removed due to stay against demolition, adjacent jhuggis, and seven religious structures.
India Gazette
07-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi Police files FIR against 'anti social elements' for spreading rumours on demolition drive
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Delhi police have lodged an FIR against anti-social elements involved in spreading misinformation about the demolition drive on the basis of a complaint filed by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), a release said. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had earlier issued an order to take strict legal action against those spreading misinformation about the demolition drive. The complaint highlights that a list of 675 JJ Bastis, which is publicly available on the DUSIB website for informational and administrative purposes, is being falsely circulated as the list of slums slated for demolition. This misinformation is creating panic, fear, and unrest among residents of vulnerable areas, the release added. The DUSIB has categorically clarified that no such demolition action has been taken so far by the department. Only those JJ bastis have been identified for rehabilitation under Policy, against which directions has been passed by Court, the release added. 'The misinformation being spread is baseless, unverified, and malicious, and could lead to law-and-order issues. In light of the same, Station House Officer is requested to take action against those anti-social elements who are spreading such baseless rumours and file an FIR accordingly,' as per the complaint. The CM has directed officials to maintain open communication with JJ residents and also urged citizens not to fall prey to such fabricated claims and to verify all information through official channels. CM Rekha Gupta reaffirmed her government's commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of slum dwellers. She emphasized that Delhi belongs to all its citizens, and every effort is being made to build an inclusive and secure city. Chief Minister assured that no slum will be demolished without providing them Pakka Makan. As per the release, CM Rekha Gupta further said, 'Our government believes in inclusive governance. Spreading fear among poor families by misusing public information is not just irresponsible but criminal. We will not tolerate any attempts to incite unrest. The Delhi Police has been asked to take swift and strict action against such anti-social elements.' (ANI)
