The demolition activities that began in the morning were halted by railway authorities after the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered status quo on demolition of slum houses along the railway tracks between Surat railway station and Udhna railway station in Surat.
The order was passed after a bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Surya Kant mentioned the matter for urgent listing.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioner, told the bench that in pursuance of the August 19 order of the Gujarat High Court, which had directed eviction of over 10,000 slums, the authorities would begin the demolition work on Tuesday itself. Were were
“List the matter before an appropriate bench on August 25, 2021. Till August 25, 2021, the authorities concerned are directed to maintain status quo,” the bench said in its order.
Gonsalves told the bench that the High Court on July 23, 2014 had set aside its interim order of status quo and allowed Western Railway to proceed with the Surat-Udhna to Jalgaon third railway line project.
Late Congress leader Rizwan Usmani moved the Gujarat High Court on behalf of the slum dwellers in 2014, after the Railways served notices to illegal slum dwellers between Surat to Udhna railway stations and the court removed them on August 19, 2021. The demolition was banned.
On 22 August, railway officials issued notices to around 10,000 slum dwellers on either side of the railway track from Uttaran railway station to Bhestan railway station to vacate their homes within 24 hours.
On Tuesday morning, railway officials led by two additional divisional railway managers, engineering staff, technical staff along with personnel of Surat city police, RPF, GRP and SRP reached Mafatnagar, Magdum Nagar slums and started demolition activities.
Residents tried to appeal to the authorities but demolition activities continued.
After the order of the Supreme Court came by noon, advocate Jamir Sheikh, the lawyer of the slum dwellers, reached the spot with a copy of the order, after which the demolition activities were stopped.
Dinesh Verma, director of Surat railway station, said, “Around 1,000 huts were demolished. We will wait till tomorrow and decide on the further course of action.”
Shaikh said, “There are more than 10,000 people living in slums here… They have not been given alternative houses under PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) or Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana… they are on the streets. Further hearing will be held in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.”
Kailash Devi, a resident of Mafatnagar Railway Slum, appealed to Union Minister of State for Railways Darshan Zardosh, who belongs to Surat, saying, “Our slums are being demolished…Please allot us accommodation. Most of the people living in our areas are working as labourers… We have been living here for more than 30 years and are poor. We are ready to vacate but provide us with an alternate home.
The petition, filed by Surat-based “Uttaran Se Bhestan Railway Jhopadpatti Vikas Mandal”, said that the slum dwellers, who are living on railway land, will suffer “irreparable loss” if they are not provided with alternative arrangements and once made homeless. their condition becomes even more pathetic, especially during COVID-19 global pandemic.
“The impugned order dated August 19, 2021 is violative of various judgments laid down by the Supreme Court of India in which the court has placed the right to housing as an important component of Article 21 of the Constitution of India and emphasized on rehabilitation. The slum dwellers,” said the petition challenging the High Court order.
It said the petition has been filed for and on behalf of around 10,000 slum dwellers living near railway lines in Surat city. “They have been living on railway land for more than 60 years now. Most of them have proof of residence… voter ID and ration card…,” it said.
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