The Supreme Court in its order dated January 5 stayed the demolition in Banbhulpura in Haldwani, where residents were declared to be “encroachers” on railway land and were served notices to vacate or face eviction as per an order of the Uttarakhand high court. The high court bench of Justices R.C. Khulbe and Sharad Kumar Sharma had mentioned a “need of immediate removal”, if need be by employing para-military forces, in its order of December 20, 2022. The apex court questioned how 50,000 people could be uprooted in a week, that too without any rehabilitation scheme.

https://thewire.in/rights/haldwani-banbhulpura-eviction-demography 

In Banbhulpura, many structures are said to be 60-80 years to even a century old, including an old aara machine (saw mill), a mazar, a school and a few houses. Qureshi says that the meat market opposite his house was given a licence in 1919. A majority of the population are from lower income groups, and labourers can be seen standing at the chatri chowk.

by Shruti jain

11/01/2023