Deepali Kalia –
On June 17th June, Supreme Court refused to stop the demolition of about 10,000 settlements at Khori Gaon in Faridabad district, Haryana for encroachment on forest land. The settlements were housing about 1 lakh people.
The order was passed by a Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which had sought stay on the demolition.
“In our opinion, no indulgence is required to be shown by this Court at this stage. The petitioners would be permitted to produce documents at the (Faridabad) Corporation. The people had enough opportunity to vacate the forest land after February, 2020. Petitioners were obligated to provide documents to come under the rehabilitation scheme, which they have failed to do. We have recorded the submission that clearance of unlawful encroachment on forest land will be carried out as per due process of law. The Corporation and State may proceed on the basis of the commitment give to Court on earlier occasion and in order dated June 7, 2021. Nothing more is required to be said in this petition.” the Court stated in its order.
Advocate Aparna Bhat, representing the Petitioner stated that authorities were carrying out forceful eviction even as the hearing was taking place to which Top Court replied, “Yes let them do it.”
To Bhat’s request that temporary shelter be given to the evicted children, the Court said that it was up to the State of Haryana to address the particular issue.
When the Top Court was informed by the State government that encroachers were pelting stones at the officials, the Court said that the authorities “Knew what to do” and so no order was needed.
“We make it clear that the pendency of the proceedings here will not come in the way of clearing the encroachments.”, the Bench added.
The matter will now be heard on July 27th.
