The Supreme Court, ruling in response to an affidavit filed by state-run Indian Railways, said 48,000 shacks should be pulled down in phases, setting a three-month deadline for the destruction of those in so-called "safety zones". Officials at Indian Railways were not immediately available for comment on the court's ruling in the pollution-focused case, which housing rights activists said would trigger further hardship and homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic. "On the one hand you're telling me to remain indoors, on the other hand you're demolishing my house," Kabir said. Shivani Chaudhry, executive director of the Delhi-based HLRN, said this week's order was surprising because the case was concerned with pollution rather than housing. "Given the pandemic, the court should consider extending the timeframe for implementation of the order and issue directives for adequate rehabilitation before anyone is removed," she said.

Source: bd News24 September 05, 2020 11:26 UTC