New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked authorities not to take coercive action against dwellers who have been told to vacate three slum clusters near the Prime Minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg.The court told the authorities not to act till the slum residents respond to the court’s offer of monitoring and ensuring that they get proper facilities at Savda Ghevra, the site of their rehabilitation that is 40 km away. “Are you willing to provide Delhi Metro and bus passes for three years to those being relocated? Get instructions,” a bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia told the law officer representing the Centre.It listed the matter for May 26. A section of residents of Bhai Ram Camp, DID Camp and Masjid Camp have objected to a single judge’s order that refused to interfere with the eviction.The high court also asked the counsels representing the affected dwellers to check with the remaining 500-odd families if they will vacate the area, provided the court deputes a panel to visit and inspect the condition of the flats and its basic facilities at Savda Ghevra. The bench assured the petitioners it is open to monitor and ensure that sanitation, water, schools and other amenities are up to the mark in the one-bedroom flats.While posting the matter for next week, the high court also asked Dusib to “complete its instructions” on the aspect of decent rehabilitation of the residents of the three camps.“We have the law officer, the ASG is here. The Dusib counsel is here. Don’t do anything till Monday,” the bench said, indicating that it wants to await the response of the parties to its proposal.The counsel for the residents pointed out that the authorities have decided to remove the slums citing “defence” and security considerations but not carried out due diligence to ensure they are rehabilitated somewhere nearby.Wondering how the dwellers will find employment in the new place, the counsels also highlighted the lack of schools and other facilities and urged the court to “protect” them as they faced a relocation deadline of May 25.On May 11, the single judge refused to interfere with the eviction of residents of the three slum clusters and asked them to vacate the area in 15 days.The Centre sought their eviction on the grounds that the clusters were in a protected zone, next to an Air Force Station, and the decision to remove unauthorised construction in the area was taken to strengthen and secure defence infrastructure and for other public and security purposes.It stated that in-situ rehabilitation was not possible as no alternative accommodation was there nearby, and the decision was to shift 717 dwellers to Savda Ghevra.
