No bar on Corporation’s slum eviction drive

Justice S Vaidyanathan, while disposing a batch of writ petitions with respect of those in Otteri, said, “The law has been enacted to effectively arrest the growth of slums, which are not fit for human habitation.” 

Directing the authorities concerned to hand over the token/key to eligible petitioners within five days, the Judge said, “On receipt of the token/key, the eligible petitioners shall vacate the premises in question. Others, who are not eligible for alternative sites, shall vacate the slums on their own, within a month. The petitioners, who refuse to receive the allotment order, will not be shown any indulgence and they can be removed within 10 days’ time.” 

Also, on recording the Advocate-General Vijay Narayan’s submission that the land available may be used for extension of storm water drain or for any other public purpose and certainly, it is not going to be used for dwelling accommodation for Officers or Government Offices, the judge made it clear that if any rejection order for alternate accommodation is passed by the officials to any of the petitioners, they can challenge the same. However, this will not give them any right to continue to live in the said places. 

Even if they challenge and succeed, they will be entitled to any other alternative site and they cannot be allowed to continue in the place, the judge added. 

The judge also passed a similar order on another writ petition filed by Nancy not to evict her from the slum on Greams Road.