The Supreme Court has stayed a controversial order of the Uttarakhand high court directing the removal of occupants from land allegedly owned by the Railways in Haldwani. Residents of Banbhoolpura, Haldwani —many of whom have leases going back decades— have been peacefully protesting this order over the past 24 hours. Several petitions were filed and heard today, Thursday, January 5, over the issue. Advocates Prashant Bhushan, Siddharth Luthra and Colin Gonsalves, among others appeared for the petitioners, those rendered homeless.
LiveLaw reported how a division bench consisting of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S. Oka, that, “There cannot be uprooting of 50,000 people in 7 days.”
On December 20, 2022, a division bench led by Sarat Kumar Sarma had directed removal of homes in the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani. As many as 4,000 families (50, 000 persons) residing in the area near the Haldwani railway station thus faced eviction, despite claiming that they have been living on the land near the railway lines for over 40 years now. Reports said that government schools also came up on this land.
Citizens for Justice and Peace has researched and compiled the following resources that are relevant to the issue:
“An eye for an eye”: new law of the land for minorities in India?
https://cjp.org.in/an-eye-for-an-eye-new-law-of-the-land-for-the-muslim-minorities-in-india/
Righta Protects, Policy Evicts
https://cjp.org.in/rights-protect-policy-evicts/
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