SC ORDERS REMOVAL OF ENCROACHMENT ON FOREST LAND

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered eviction of thousands of slum dwellers encroaching forest land in Haryana’s Faridabad district holding that on forest land there can’t be any compromise or concession.

The top court gave six weeks to the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad to complete the demolition and directed the secretary, forests department of Haryana government, to file a compliance affidavit before the next date of hearing on July 27.

A bench of justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari directed police protection to the corporation officials visiting the site for demolition.

The slum dwellers of Khori Gaon in Faridabad had approached the Supreme Court for protection after the municipal corporation began to demolish their homes in April. After nearly 300 houses were demolished, the remaining occupants of 10,000 houses approached the top court seeking rehabilitation.

The bench termed them “land grabbers” and refused to come to their aid.