New Delhi: The Delhi High Court, while hearing a case, has said that illegally settled slums cannot be demolished by using bulldozers in the early hours or late evening without giving a notice. The High Court has ordered the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to give adequate time to evict slum dwellers in Delhi.   

Justice Subramanian Prasad of the single bench of the Delhi High Court said, "The DDA has to consult the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board before taking up any such work. People cannot be evicted from their houses in the morning or late in the evening without any notice by bulldozing . This will make them completely shelterless. The court further said that such people should be given due time and they should be provided temporary space before starting any demolition.

The Delhi High Court said this while hearing a petition filed by the Shakarpur Slum Union. The petitioners' association said that on June 25 last year, dda officials arrived without any notice and demolished around 300 huts. The petition said that the conduct of dda officials continued for three days. Many of those whose slums were demolished with bulldozers could not even lift their luggage properly. Everything was destroyed in this action of the bulldozer.

However, after hearing the arguments of both the parties, the High Court has closed the hearing in the matter. During this time, the court listened closely to the arguments made by dda and delhi government officials. The High Court, after hearing all the parties, expressed satisfaction and closed the hearing of the case.