New Delhi (ILNS): The Allahabad High Court has stayed the demolition of the Bhovapur labour colony behind the Radisson Blue Hotel in Kaushambi, Ghaziabad until further orders. Simultaneously, a counter affidavit has been sought from the Ghaziabad Development Authority along with their complete rehabilitation plan.
This order has been given by a division bench of the Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Siddharth Verma on the PIL of Dev Pal.
The Court has said that the corona epidemic has spread in the world. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of the State Government to protect all the people, especially the weaker sections. The District Administration should make provision of temporary accommodation for those whose houses have been demolished.
The Court has said that the Ghaziabad Development Authority should consider rehabilitation scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for the people of Bhovapur slum, till then the people of the township should be provided basic facilities, electricity, water, medical aid etc.
At the time of the formation of the Development Authority, workers from different parts of the country who came for employment since 1990 formed a colony. Demolition is being done without any arrangement for their rehabilitation. 150 houses have been demolished.
The GDA says the settlement is illegal and for this reason only demolition is being done. The Court said that eviction is not right without an alternative system.
The Court has asked the authority to prepare and submit the entire plan.
The next hearing will be on November 18.
Read the order here;
WPILA-1185-2020