Urban News

The Gujarat High Court on Monday lambasted Vadodara Municipal Commissioner M K Das over demolition of a slum, allegedly encroached upon government land in the city, without providing alternate accommodation to the slum dwellers.

The division bench headed by the Chief Justice asked Das to file an affidavit by Friday furnishing the civic body’s plans to rehabilitate the landless slum dwellers after having consultation with the revenue and urban development departments.

In May, VMC authorities had demolished a slum of around 550 families in the Dholi-Kui locality without giving them alternate accommodation. Following this, a voluntary organisation, fighting for the rights of slum dwellers, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the HC praying alternate housing and compensation for the slum dwellers from the VMC.

The petitioner had produced photographs of the demolition drive and after looking at the same, the HC had directed the municipal commissioner to personally remain present before it to explain the demolition decision.

Today, Das remained present before the court, which asked certain questions to him about the manner in which the slum was demolished. The court asked Das, “Can you stand in the scorching heat the whole day?” The bench also asked him where would the slum dwellers go if no alternate accommodation has been provided to them. At one point, the court asked Das why it should not pass an order directing the government to take steps against him in this regard.

Also, the court held the authorities responsible for the menace of encroachment on government land stating that had they remained vigilant to check encroachment, the problem would not have existed at all.