The Supreme Court has stayed the Uttarakhand High Court’s order to evict 4000 families from 78 acres of railway land in Banbhulpura, Haldwani, Uttarakhand. After this order of the apex court, the houses of 4000 families will not be destroyed for the time being. The Supreme Court, while sending a notice, has sought answers from the Uttarakhand government and the Railways on this matter. The court said that you cannot remove 50 thousand people overnight. It is a human matter. The Supreme Court said that we have to find a workable solution. This is not the way of solution. There are many angles arising out of the nature of land, nature of rights, nature of ownership etc., which need to be examined.
Only a week is too little time to remove them. First their rehabilitation should be considered. Please inform that Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Abhay S. Oak’s bench was hearing the matter. Now the next hearing will be on February 7.
The Supreme Court said, 50 thousand people cannot be rendered homeless overnight. Railways should prepare a plan for the rehabilitation and rights of these people along with the development.
Justice Kaul said, the most disturbing thing is how do you deal with a scenario where people have bought land in auction after 1947. You can definitely expand the line, he said. But for those who have been living there for 40, 50 and 60 years, a rehabilitation plan should be brought first. Justice Kaul said that this is a basic humanitarian issue. Your idea is to develop on the land.
Somebody has to get involved objectively and cut short the process. Some may be entitled to rehabilitation. Nothing can happen. All these need to be investigated. Also you have to ensure that there is no further encroachment or further construction. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices SA Nazeer and PS Narasimha had said that it would be heard on Thursday after social activist and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan made a formal mention in the matter in the Supreme Court.
The protesters are blaming the BJP government for the crackdown in an area where most of the residents are Muslim. Social activists and leaders have also joined the protest. PLC/GT
