The Delhi High Court has granted residents of three slum clusters near the Prime Minister’s official residence six weeks to vacate their homes and relocate to alternative accommodation provided by the government.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed residents of Bhai Ram Camp, Masjid Camp and DID Colony near Lok Kalyan Marg to vacate their dwelling units within six weeks.
The court said that after the deadline, authorities could evict the residents, if necessary with police assistance, to clear the land.
Residents to be relocated to Savda Ghevra
The court directed the authorities to settle the affected residents during the six-week period in accommodation allotted to them at the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) Colony in Savda Ghevra.
The court also ordered DUSIB to facilitate transportation of the residents’ household belongings to their allotted accommodation.
The relocation process will be supervised by a monitoring committee headed by Man Mohan Sharma, a retired officer of the Delhi Higher Judicial Services and former Delhi judge.
The committee will monitor rehabilitation and ensure that authorities provide the amenities promised to the relocated residents.
Court stresses right to live with dignity
The monitoring committee will include senior officials from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, DUSIB, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Jal Board, Directorate of Education and the health department.
The committee will function for six months, with the possibility of a two-month extension if required.
The High Court stressed that rehabilitation must be meaningful and protect the residents' right to live with human dignity, which forms part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Authorities have also been directed to comply with the court's earlier directions regarding facilities at Savda Ghevra, including schools, electricity, LPG connections, bus passes and dispensaries.
Why are the slums being cleared?
The three slum clusters are located near the Prime Minister's official residence in the Lok Kalyan Marg area.
The Centre had sought their eviction, citing their location in a protected zone immediately next to an operational Air Force Station. It argued that removing unauthorised constructions was necessary to strengthen and secure defence infrastructure and for other public and security purposes.
The residents had challenged the eviction proceedings, arguing that the action violated the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015.
The division bench rejected that argument while retaining the six-week deadline for vacation.
717 residents to be shifted
The latest order follows appeals filed by residents against a May 11 judgment of a single judge, which had refused to interfere with the eviction process.
The single judge had initially given residents 15 days to vacate their homes, noting that eviction notices had first been issued by the Land and Development Office in October 2025.
The Centre had said that in-situ rehabilitation was not possible because suitable alternative accommodation was unavailable in the vicinity.
Authorities had subsequently decided to relocate 717 dwellers from the three clusters to Savda Ghevra.
The latest High Court order therefore keeps the eviction process in place but gives residents six weeks while placing their rehabilitation under judicial monitoring and requiring authorities to provide the promised facilities at the relocation site.
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