New Delhi: On Thursday (January 5), providing relief to 4,000 families living on what the Indian Railways claims is its land in Haldwani of Uttarakhand, the Supreme Court of India stayed the orders of the Uttarakhand high court which had allowed a forceful eviction. Passing the stay order, a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S. Oka asked the state and the Railways to find a “practical solution”.
“People stayed there for so many years. Some rehabilitation has to be given. There are establishments there. How can you say in seven days clear them off?” Justice Kaul asked. Justice Oka observed that people say they have been living in the area for 50 years. They emphasised on finding a solution, rightly terming it a human rights issue.
Exactly a week before the Supreme Court order, on December 28, 2022, nearly 40 families were rendered homeless after the demolition of their basti in Ranchi by the Railways. Since then, most of them are forced to brave the cold under the open sky. According to the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, a state-level coalition of people’s organisations, most families belong to Dalit or Adivasi communities. People who have been evicted told members of the Mahasabha during their visit that they have been living there for three generations. “About 50-60 years ago, people who came to Ranchi in search of work settled in this little piece of land next to the railway line. This is the only home many know,” the Mahasabha tweeted.
This story was originally published in thewire.in . Read the full story here