HC seeks details of schools at Savda Ghevra relocation site

New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Friday sought details on the condition, teacher-student strength and location of schools in the Savda Ghevra area, where authorities propose to relocate residents from three slum clusters abutting Lok Kalyan Marg that houses the Prime Minister’s official residence.“File an affidavit stating the number of schools in the area where these people are proposed to be shifted, the number of teachers available and the general condition of these schools,” a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia told the Centre’s counsel.The court was hearing an appeal by residents of Bhai Ram Camp, DID Camp and Masjid Camp, challenging a single judge’s order refusing to interfere with their eviction from the area.The bench also asked the Centre to clearly indicate its arrangements with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to ensure free travel for the relocated persons for a period of three years. The matter has been listed for further hearing on June 4.Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma told the court that DTC could issue bus passes for one year, which could be extended further.Though the metro does not have a scheme for free travel, Sharma said an arrangement could be made for the Land and Development Office to reimburse the amount to DMRC. He also claimed that there were several schools in the vicinity where the children of the relocated residents could be accommodated.Counsel appearing for the affected residents, however, argued that they “cannot be thrown to the wolves” and urged the Centre to relocate them within a five-kilometre radius of their present homes.“Consider that also,” the bench told the Centre.The high court sought a response from the central govt after the appellants alleged that the alternative housing site in the Savda Ghevra area, near the Tikri border, lacked basic facilities such as schools, electricity and sanitation.Earlier this month, a single judge had declined to interfere with the eviction of residents from the three slum clusters and directed them to vacate the camps within 15 days. The Centre had sought the eviction on the ground that the jhuggi-jhopdi clusters were located in a protected zone adjacent to an operational Air Force Station, and that the removal of unauthorised construction was necessary to strengthen defence infrastructure and meet public and security requirements.Earlier this month, while dealing with the appeal, the high court had directed the Centre not to take any coercive action against those who had not yet vacated their homes.