Clear forest land of slums: Top court to Faridabad MC
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the eviction of thousands of people living in slums encroaching on forest land in Haryana’s Faridabad district, ruling that there cannot be any compromise or concession when it comes to forest encroachment.
The top court gave six weeks to the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad to complete the demolition and directed the secretary of the forests department of the Haryana government to file a compliance affidavit before the next hearing on July 27.
The municipal body previously complained of stone pelting by occupants during a demolition drive in April this year. The bench on Monday directed police protection to corporation officials visiting the site. The superintendent of police, Faridabad district, was held to be personally responsible for ensuring adequate logistical support for the civic body.
The bench of justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari held, “We expect that the corporation will take all essential measures to remove encroachments on the subject forest land without any exception, not later than six weeks from today and submit a compliance report in that behalf, under the signature of the chief executive officer of the corporation.”
The dwellers of Khori Gaon in Faridabad had approached the Supreme Court for protection after the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad began to demolish their houses in April this year. After nearly 300 houses were demolished, the occupants of the remaining 10,000 houses approached the top court seeking rehabilitation.
The bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari termed them “land grabbers” and refused to come to their aid. The top court had on February 19, 2020 and on April 5, 2021 directed the occupants to be cleared from forest land. On
Monday, the bench reiterated saying: “We make it clear that the corporation shall proceed in the matter as observed in our orders dated February 19, 2020 and April 5, 2021.”
Since past directions of the court were not complied with, the bench observed: “It seems like the corporation does not intend to evict (the occupants).” The corporation was represented by senior advocate Arun Bhardwaj who said that Corporation officials required adequate protection. The bench asked the State in general and the local police in particular to provide all necessary and adequate logistical support to evict the encroachers.