In a sharp rebuke to the central government, the Supreme Court of India has demanded dignified housing for Hindu refugees from Pakistan, particularly those from Scheduled Castes, who fled religious persecution. The court’s intervention came amid fears of eviction from their makeshift camp near Signature Bridge in Delhi’s Majnu ka Tilla area.
These refugees, numbering around 250-260 families or 800-1,200 individuals, have been living in subhuman conditions in jhuggis on the Yamuna floodplains. Many have already received Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act, while others await approval. Despite this, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and other agencies were gearing up to demolish their settlements, citing illegal encroachments.
A bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh expressed dismay at the lack of rehabilitation plans. ‘Granting citizenship is not enough; Article 21 guarantees not just life but life with dignity, including shelter,’ the court asserted. It issued notices to the Centre and DDA, seeking responses within four weeks, and stayed any eviction proceedings in the interim.
The refugees’ harrowing tales underscore their desperation. In Pakistan, they endured taunts as ‘kafirs’ and faced relentless discrimination. Arriving in India, they initially battled suspicion but hoped citizenship would secure stability. Now, the threat of homelessness looms large again.
Most eke out a living through daily wage labor, domestic work, or petty jobs. The court questioned why alternative housing hasn’t been provided post-citizenship. This case highlights broader challenges in rehabilitating persecuted minorities granted refuge under special laws. As the matter progresses, it could set a precedent for humane treatment of such vulnerable groups.