Evict encroachers from Aravalli forest land: Supreme Court

Satya prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 7

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the eviction of encroachers from around 10,000 residential structures constructed illegally at Lakkarpur Khori village in Aravalli forest area of Faridabad district in Haryana.

Seeks compliance report in 6 weeks

• At least 10,000 houses are constructed illegally at Lakkarpur Khori village in Aravalli forest area
• The SC asked the Faridabad MC and district police to evict illegal occupants and file a compliance report in 6 weeks
• It said petitioners’ demand for rehabilitation could be considered separately

A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar ordered the Faridabad Municipal Corporation and district police to evict the illegal occupants from the government land and file a compliance report in six weeks.

“Land grabbers can’t take refuge under rule of law and talk of fairness,” the top court said, rejecting a plea filed by five encroachers against the demolition/eviction drive.

The Bench, however, said the petitioners’ demand for rehabilitation could be considered independently.

The petitioners had challenged the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran Rehabilitation Policy to the extent it limits the cut-off for rehabilitation to 2003 and sought a stay on demolition of about 10,000 houses in the area.

As counsel Colin Gonsalves, representing the petitioners, said those evicted should be accommodated, the Bench shot back, “Who is asking this? Land grabbers! When you come to court you become honest and law abiding and on site, you don’t do anything lawful.”

“First the forest land has to be cleared. Don’t give us Covid excuses. File a compliance report. It may be a case where some people are hand in glove with the encroachers,” it said.

It ordered the local police to give necessary logistical support to enable the corporation to evict the occupants and clear all encroachments.

Noting that it had passed an interim order in February last year for the removal of encroachments, the Bench said it would be asking the civic body why the orders had not been followed so far.

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