
Delhi HC issues notice to Railway, DUSIB on PIL against notice for demolition of settlement colony on track
The division bench of Justices Tejas Karia and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta on Monday issued notice to Northern Railways and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB).
The High Court has granted them one week to file their affidavits. Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has also been impleaded as a respondent at the oral request of the counsel for the petitioner.
After issuing notices, the matter was listed for a hearing on July 3, 2025. NGO Shine Women Welfare Association has moved a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking quashing of demolition notices of May 19, 2025 and June 05, 2025.
It has also sought an order to provide rehabilitation to the affected parties before taking any coercive action against Chander Shekhar Azad Colony residents.
During the earlier hearing, the counsel for Northern Railways showed certain photographs supporting the submission that the illegal encroachments along the railway tracks are so dangerous.
A number of those constructions obstruct visibility and traffic signals, which can cause a serious risk of train accidents, the counsel said.
Almost all structures across the railway track are built up to the first floor, and there is not sufficient distance between those structures and the railway track, the council added. It was also submitted that the demolition action is being carried out under the directions passed by a Division Bench of this Court in another petition.
Counsel for DUSIB submitted that even according to the policy sought to be invoked by the petitioner, no protection can be granted where the demolition action is being carried out on the basis of a judicial order.
A PIL has been moved through advocates Anuradha Singh and Rishi Nandy. The petitioner has stated that this notice calls for the eviction of residents of Chander Shekhar Azad Colony, Wazirpur Industrial Area, citing safety hazards to railway operations.
The demolition drive began on June 2, 2025. Counsel Anuradha Singh contended that these demolitions are being carried out arbitrarily, without any form of rehabilitation, in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, and contrary to established legal and policy safeguards.
The plea said the settlement, comprising more than 3000 houses, is officially listed at Serial No 100 in the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) list of 675 JJ Bastis.
It added that most residents are engaged in low-income occupations such as domestic work, vending, and daily wage labour.
A joint survey was conducted in 2015 by the Respondents, during which the residents submitted necessary documents to establish their eligibility for rehabilitation under the Delhi Slum and JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, the plea stated. (ANI)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
MP calls for delisting converted tribal people from ST category
1 2 3 Jaipur: In a significant move, Udaipur MP Mannalal Rawat has brought attention to a controversial demand in the Lok Sabha, calling for the removal of religious converts from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. Speaking in Lok Sabha Monday, the BJP MP advocated for applying the same criteria to STs as currently applicable to Scheduled Castes (SCs), where conversion to non-Hindu faiths leads to disqualification from constitutional benefits. Rawat, who has strong ties with the RSS-affiliated Janjati Suraksha Manch (JSM), highlighted what he termed a "legal loophole" that has persisted for 75 years. Quoting studies and reports, Rawat said converted tribals continue to receive reservation benefits in education, employment and welfare schemes despite abandoning traditional tribal customs and practices. "This is a direct blow to the rights of genuine tribal communities in Udaipur, Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh and across the country. Limited resources are being diverted to those who no longer preserve tribal identity, weakening socio-economic development efforts," he told TOI. Referring to Article 342 of the Constitution, which governs Scheduled Tribes, Rawat noted that currently does not include any disqualification clause related to religious conversion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo The MP, who took voluntary retirement from a Rajasthan govt service to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, alleged that Christian missionaries and other groups have been conducting forced conversions in tribal areas through financial inducements. "They have devised a formula: change your belief system but not your legal identity. This poses a serious threat to tribal culture and traditions," Rawat said. According to the 2011 Census, Rajasthan has approximately 97,000 Christians, primarily concentrated in Jaipur, Ajmer, Dungarpur and Banswara. As a key strategist for JSM's nationwide campaign, Rawat has been instrumental in organising rallies and outreach programs across several states with significant tribal populations, including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Rawat was hand-picked by senior RSS members from Udaipur to address several long-pending issues, including the contentious demand for the de-listing of converted tribal people from Scheduled Tribe benefits. The demand for de-listing converted tribal people has been a long-standing agenda of RSS-affiliated organisations, though it faces complex constitutional and social implications.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Tejashwi leads Oppn attack in Bihar assembly: ‘Not against roll revision but the process'
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls continued to cause stormy scenes at the monsoon session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly for the third day in a row, with the Speaker allowing discussion on the subject after three days of Opposition protest. Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav's decision to allow the discussion came despite Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's objections to it. During the debate, Bihar's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav questioned the timing, transparency, and documentation requirements for SIR – the Election Commission's contentious exercise to update electoral rolls. 'The Constitution grants the right to vote to every person above 18 years, regardless of wealth or status. This equality must not be infringed,' he said. The Opposition, he insisted, 'wasn't against the SIR itself' but opposed the process. Referring to complaints cited by the Election Commission about non-resident and 'external' voters. 'The Election Commission should work honestly and transparently, but it is not doing so. We strongly oppose and deny this in the House,' he said. 'It is shameful that such a significant drive is going on and yet the Election Commissioner has not addressed the press to clarify their position; instead, information emerges only through unnamed sources.' He also wondered at the 'urgency' of conducting the exercise, pointing out that the last such revision in 2003 took two years to complete. 'If the process is so important, why not start after the Lok Sabha elections? Why was it initiated now, during the monsoon season?' he asked. 'Bihar is at the bottom in terms of essential documents, whether it's a birth or death certificate. Only 2.3% of people have the necessary documents. Now, 11 documents are being demanded which most poor people don't possess. Why aren't Aadhaar, ration cards, or MNREGA cards being accepted, despite Supreme Court suggestions?' This figure includes both 3.5 crore registered workers and around 1 crore unregistered voters who, despite their tenure outside, 'return to Bihar to vote'. 'There is now a risk their names may be deleted from the rolls,' the LOP argued. Addressing allegations about foreign nationals on the rolls, he said: 'The matter is pending before the Supreme Court. In the 780-page affidavit filed by the Election Commission, there is no mention of any Bangladeshi, Nepali, or Myanmar national. Even BJP's over 52,000 Booth Level Agents have never raised such complaints with the Election Commission.' In response, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar accused the Opposition of making electoral rolls revision 'an issue because of their lack of work and upcoming elections'. The RJD too had been in power once, he went on to say. 'Why are you raising these issues now? Your father was chief minister for seven years, then your mother for another seven years, and then you were also deputy chief minister,' Kumar said. 'Look at what your budget used to be earlier, and how much more we've done for everyone now. Today, it's more than Rs 3 lakh crore and the central government is providing a lot of support too… we surveyed Bihar to identify where anything was lacking. Wherever there were gaps, we've addressed them… Whenever there was a need, we made sure the work got done,' he said. He then said: 'Ab mamla hai ki chunav ladna hai to bhai chunav ladiye aur uske band jitna bolna hai bolte rahiye (But now it's about contesting elections. So go contest and then you can say as much as you like).' The situation began to heat up when a comment made by RJD MLA Bhai Virendra caused uproar and led to the house being adjourned until the afternoon session.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi arrives in London, key India-UK trade deal on agenda
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in London on Thursday for two-day visit to the United Kingdom. Announcing his arrival, PM Modi says the visit would advance the economic partnership between India and the UK. PM Modi has arrived in London.(X/@narendramodi) "The focus will be on furthering prosperity, growth and boosting job creation for our people. A strong India-UK friendship is essential for global progress," a part of his tweet read. What's on agenda? The formal signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK would be the key highlight of PM Modi's visit. He will hold a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and discuss the bilateral ties between the two countries. The agreement was signed on May 6 and will reportedly be signed by the commerce ministers of India and UK, Piyush Goyal and Jonathan Reynolds, respectively. The FTA will help India massively in terms of tariff, with 99 per cent Indian exports likely to benefit from tariff. As part of the trade deal, it will also be easier for British firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India. While in the UK, PM Modi will be hosted by Starmer at Chequers, the British PM's residence located 50 km northwest of London, people familiar with the matter earlier said. The Prime Minister's visit aims at both India and the UK reviewing the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). Trade and economy, technology, defence, climate, health and education will be some of the focus areas. Besides, PM Modi will also meet King Charles III, before heading to the Maldives for his visit on July 25-26. Interaction with Indian community Upon his arrival in London, PM Modi interacted with some members of the Indian community there, who had been waiting for him. The Indian diaspora expressed joy upon meeting the Prime Minister, and wished him well for the visit. "I just met the PM. He walked past us. It was a surreal moment. I got to shake my hand. He is so dynamic... It was an amazing experience," Gehna Gautam, an Indian diaspora member was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. "The Prime Minister shook my hand and gave me 'Ashirwad'. It was the best feeling ever...," said Bhavya, another member. Some members of the Dawoodi Bohra community also seemed excited to meet the PM. As Dawoodi Bohras, we are very proud of the relationship that the Prime Minister has with our community. He's been a friend of our community for many years. And as a proud Dawoodi Bohra and as a British citizen, we welcome him to the UK and look forward to meeting him..." a member said. Catherine West, UK Foreign Office Minister in charge of the Indo-Pacific, received PM Modi at the London airport. Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami and British High Commissioner to New Delhi Lindy Cameron accompanied her, reported news agency PTI.