Supreme Court stays removal of Jhuggi-Jhopdi cluster

New Delhi, May 2 (UNI) The Supreme Court today stayed till May 9 the removal of ''Naglamachi'' slum cluster on the ring road near Pragati Madan .

A bench comprising Mrs Justice Ruma Pal and Mrs. Justice Dalveer Bhandari granted interim stay when counsel Prashant Bhushan, counsel for the ten petitioners, pleaded that housing is a fundamental right and as the petitioners were extremely poor, they cannot be removed without providing them alternate sites for rehabilitation.

The petitioners have filed a special leave petition against a Delhi High Court order dated April 5 directing the Municipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD) to remove all jhuggi-jhopdi clusters from a Yamuna river bed before the next date of hearing on May 18.

The removal of the Naglamachi jhuggi-jhopdi cluster was to begin on Thursday.

UNI AKS SC SY VC1700