Plea in Supreme Court to rehabilitate slum dwellers in Sarojini Nagar before jhuggi demolition

A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging an order of the Delhi High Court refusing to pass directions for rehabilitation of slum dwellers in Sarojini Nagar whose jhuggis are being demolished [Vaishali (Minor) (Through Next Friend Mrs. Sita Devi) v Union of India]..The appellants have moved the top court against an order of the High Court which effectively allowed the demolition of slums and eviction of the slum dwellers, without any alternate arrangements having been made for the slum dwellers.The matter was mentioned today before Chief Justice of India NV Ramana who agreed to list it on Monday."This is regarding Jhuggis of Sarojini Nagar. The protection is only till Monday. Please grant status quo and list this," Senior Counsel Vikas Singh submitted on behalf of the appellants. "We will list on Monday," the CJI said. While the counsel expressed apprehension that demolitions might happen on Monday and a status quo should be allowed, no such order was passed. .Three of the appellants are minor school going children, and residents of the said slums. Two of them are slated to appear for Board Exams starting on April 26. .It was submitted that the High Court had failed to appreciate its own judgment in the case of Sudama Singh v Government of Delhi where the Court had mandated prior rehabilitation while dealing with an un-notified slum..The plea also relied on the top court's judgment in Olga Tellis v Bombay Municipal Corporation where the right to shelter as forming the part of the right to life under Article 21 was acknowledged..It was highlighted that the appellants and other residents have been residing in the slums for past several decades, and all of them had proper proof of identity and residence.The petitioner also raised concern that majority of people living in the area were below the poverty line and did not even have the means to fulfil their basic needs and requirements of life..It was submitted that they live on a hand to mouth basis and earn their bread by working as daily labourers, rickshaw pullers, dhobis, sanitation workers etc.“The removal of the slums will render these residents homeless thereby violating their human rights as well as the Fundamental Rights as guaranteed under the Constitution of India," the petition submitted..It was also highlighted that as per the policy of Delhi and Central governments, all slums that came to existence before January 1, 2006 are eligible for rehabilitation under the Delhi Slum Rehabilitation Policy, 2015.The appellants also informed the Court that they had moved a representation before the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to consider their case sympathetically and seeking notification of Sarojini Nagar slums..Therefore, the appellants sought an interim order staying the demolition and eviction orders as well as the judgment of the High Court. They also sought a direction to the DUSIB to decide their representation..The petition was filed through advocates Nitin Saluja and Aman Panwar.