The issue is sub-judice, but residents say they continue to receive eviction threats. CPI(M) terms it ‘inhumane and illegal’
NEW DELHI – Homes of over 400 families in the Madrasi Camp jhuggi cluster in Jangpura-B, one of Delhi’s oldest informal settlements, face imminent demolition despite legal protections and an ongoing court case.
Madrasi Camp, located near the Barapullah Drain in Southeast Delhi, has existed for over six decades and is officially listed as a notified basti under the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). As per the NCT of Delhi Special Provisions Act, 2011, such settlements cannot be demolished without an alternate housing being provided.
The Delhi State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has condemned the proposed eviction as “inhumane, illegal, and politically motivated”, demanding an immediate halt to the move until proper rehabilitation is ensured.
The Delhi State Committee, general secretary, Anurag Saxena, along with other party leaders and activists, addressed a news conference to highlight the issue. They said the authorities have issued demolition notices to the residents of the colony without completing the process of verifying rehabilitation eligibility.
“Despite having valid documents, nearly one-third of the households have been arbitrarily denied rehabilitation,” Saxena said. “Those declared ‘eligible’ are being relocated to Narela, nearly 50 kilometres away, which violates existing resettlement policy.”
The Delhi Slum and JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, mandates that displaced residents must be offered housing either in situ or within a 5 km radius. Exceptions beyond this distance require special board approval. No such exception has been granted in this case, according to him.
A case on the matter is pending before the Delhi High Court, but residents say they continue to receive eviction notices. On October 5, 2024, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department submitted a report claiming the settlement obstructs the Barapullah Drain. In contrast, a fact-finding mission led by engineers from IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay found that nearby bridges and flyovers were the primary cause of drainage issues, not the slum itself.
“This is a clear misuse of environmental concerns to displace poor communities,” said the CPI(M) representative. “We demand the government allow independent technical studies instead of blaming the poor for infrastructure failures.”
Many residents of Madrasi Camp have lived there for generations. They fear that relocation to Narela would sever access to jobs, schools, and medical facilities. “This is our home. We are not encroachers — we are workers, parents, and citizens,” said a resident who declined to be named. “Shifting us so far away will ruin our lives.”
The Housing and Land Rights Network, in a 2024 report, noted that Delhi witnessed the highest number of forced evictions in India during 2022–23. According to the report, 78 clearance drives displaced nearly 2.78 lakh people, drawing criticism from urban rights groups.
CPI(M) also accused the BJP-led Union and Delhi governments of reneging on their electoral promise of “Jahan Jhuggi, Wahaan Makaan,” a slogan which pledged housing at the site of existing slums. “This has turned into a cruel joke,” he said. “Instead of protecting the urban poor, the government is prioritising commercial projects under the guise of floodplain clearing and beautification.”
Procedural Violations
The 2015 policy clearly outlines that no demolition can proceed without prior approval from DUSIB’s CEO, and that the local police should only provide security after such approval. CPI(M) alleges that the Public Works Department and Delhi Police have issued notices without DUSIB’s clearance.
They made several demands including a halt to all demolition and eviction proceedings until every rehabilitation appeal is resolved; in-situ rehabilitation or relocation within a 5-km radius; construction of new housing on nearby DDA land if current units are insufficient; a fair and transparent survey and appeal process; an end to scapegoating slum dwellers for drainage problems without credible evidence.
“The bulldozer cannot be allowed to decide who belongs in Delhi,” Saxena said. “We will mobilise with other Left parties and democratic organisations to oppose this displacement and defend the rights of working-class communities.”
As legal proceedings continue, families in Madrasi Camp wait anxiously, unsure whether the next day will bring justice or a bulldozer.
