New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Monday, directed the Centre to provide proper housing to Scheduled Caste Hindus who migrated from Pakistan,
The Court observed that granting them Indian citizenship alone is not enough and that the government must also ensure they are provided dignified housing.
The bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice N Koteshwar Singh was hearing a petition against the potential displac
ement of these families, who have been residing near the Signature Bridge in Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tila area. Despite being granted citizenship, the residents continue to face the threat of eviction from the area, the Court noted.
It was also observed by the bench that citizenship must be accompanied by adequate rehabilitation and housing measures to allow these communities to live with dignity, as reported by India Today.
The Court directed the government to submit its response within four weeks, while staying any eviction drives or development projects that could lead to the displacement of the families in the meantime.
This interim protection covers around 250 families, affecting over 1,000 people, who have lived in the area for years and now face uncertainty regarding their housing and rehabilitation.