HC issues notice to CR on petition questioning demolition of slum on railway land | Mumbai news

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Thursday issued a notice to the central railway authorities following a petition questioning the proposed demolition of slums in Vidya Vihar East.

The division bench of justice Revati Mohite Dere and justice Dr Neela Gokhale observed that since the petition was seeking implementation of Supreme Court guidelines, the railway authorities must comply with the same.

The petition, filed by the Banjara Seva Sangh, a public charitable trust, and 104 others challenged the eviction notice issued to them on January 30, 2024, by the central railways, contending that the authorities failed to adhere to the Supreme Court guidelines.

The petition, filed on March 18, 2025, through advocates Samir A Vaidya, Aditya Parmar and Zainab Khan, highlighted the apex court’s order passed in 2021, where it stated that rehabilitation must precede eviction. Therefore, they prayed for similar relief under the grounds that the authorities have not framed any scheme for the squatters and hutment dwellers on the railway land till date.

They urged the court to quash the notice, as the petitioners have neither been provided with an opportunity to be heard nor allowed to submit relevant documents. They alleged that the notice is in gross violation of principles of natural justice and prayed to stay the eviction order.

Explaining the sequence of events, the petition explained that the petitioners, residing on the land adjacent to the central railway line at Vidya Vihar for more than 40 years, had initially received notice on February 14, 2022, calling upon the petitioners to vacate the railway land within 15 days.

In response, the petitioners approached the concerned authority and submitted the occupation and possession documents. However, the central railway authorities, without taking cognisance of the documents or adhering to the guidelines issued by the apex court, confirmed another order dated March 26, 2022, which declared the petitioners as unauthorised occupants.

Later, the members of Banjara Seva Sangh approached the local MLA to represent their case before the concerned railway authorities. However, even as the matter was being pursued in the ministry concerned, they received a letter in March 2025, stating that a demolition drive at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Kurla would be conducted on February 22, 2025.