[Khori Gaon demolition] UN should have read our previous orders and paperbooks: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to pass any order staying eviction of persons living in Khori Gaon settlement at Faridabad, Haryana. .The Court also brushed aside the concerns raised by United Nations (UN) regarding people being rendered homeless due to the eviction. "UN should have read our previous orders and paperbooks," the Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar remarked. .The comment by the Supreme Court on Friday came when Senior Counsel Meenakshi Arora, highlighted the UN report regarding the eviction.Human rights experts at the United Nations (UN) had recently issued a statement urging India to halt eviction.The statement said that the role of the Supreme Court is to uphold the laws and to interpret them in light of internationally-recognized human rights standards, not to undermine them“We find extremely worrying that India’s highest court, which has in the past led the protection of housing rights, is now leading evictions placing people at risk of internal displacement and even homelessness, as is the case in Khori Gaon,” the statement read.The statement by UN experts was a result of Supreme Court's earlier direction to completely remove Khori Gaon settlements by July 19. The order came after the residents challenged the demolition of 2,000 homes in the area.On July 17, the top court refused to halt the demolition of over 10,000 settlements at Khori Gaon in Faridabad district, Haryana citing encroachment on forest land in areas of Aravalli..When the matter came up on Friday, Arora sought some relaxations in evictions in view of the fact the monsoon had commenced aside from the ongoing COVID-19 threat. She, therefore, prayed that advance notice be given before demolition commences so that alternate accommodation can be arranged. "We are requesting for a very difficult prayer. I cannot say that let places be no demolished. All that I am praying is a policy now needs to be there in 10 days. I request that we are in monsoon and covid pandemic. Would you not consider," Arora requested.The Court responded by saying that authorities will consider the same while also stating that if there is any grievance during the eviction, then it can be raised before the Court. "Authorities know better. They have compassion. If they don't have compassion you can make the grievance here. Corporation will know the ground-level reality and is up to the authorities to take a call," the Court said. You can also make a representation, it added. "UN report had said last year that there will be people who will be homeless," Arora said.The Court, however, responded by stating that UN should have read the apex court's previous orders.Arora told the Court that there are 1.5 lakh settlementsm of which about half have been cleared but those 70,000 have not been accommodated yet."Where is the time to make representation when they come tomorrow morning with bulldozer," she demanded."We are not here to discuss all aspects of demolition. corporation knows how to take this forward," the Court maintained..The Court in its order eventually said that petitioner can approach the commissioner for alternate accommodation before the demolition work begins and suitable directions can be issued by commissioner.The Court, however, made it clear that the fact that the alternative shelter offered to the an applicant is not acceptable to such person can be no reason to delay the demolition of the structure.The matter will be heard again on August 3 at 3.30 pm.