New Delhi: The Supreme Court today thundered at the residents of Khori Gaon in Faridabad for not vacating the forest land despite various orders and arguing on the ground of rehabilitation again and again. The court observed that they were given time to vacate the land, they could have produced documents last year when the order was passed and their rehabilitation would have been arranged by now.
"The concerned occupants of the unauthorised land had enough opportunity to produce documents after the order of February 2020. The only grievance of the petitioners that they are not in a position to produce documents does not take the matter any further. The petitioners were obliged to produce documents for rehabilitation but they failed to do so," observed the court.
The bench comprising of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari were hearing a plea pertaining to the eviction of people from around 10,000 houses who have been residing illegally on the forest land. On 7th June 2021, the court had asked the Faridabad Municipal Corporation to proceed with the demolition and had made it clear that any grievance of the residents will be heard only when they vacate the land.
On residents' lawyer pleading rehabilitation before any demolition today, the court observed that it went through the plea and saw that they have done nothing except for making a representation, they have not given any materials or documents. "One year was given to you, not now," said Justice Khanwilkar.
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On advocate's contention that these were destitute people, migrants, court observed that it is for the state to consider, this matter has been going on for long, the residents were given time and now they will not say anything.
"If you have not given documents or anything to get covered under the scheme then it is your problem," said Justice Khanwilkar.
With respect to residents pelting stones on the Faridabad Municipal Corporation officials, the court observed that it doesn't need to advise about how to maintain law and order. The matter will be heard again on 27th July.
