Bengaluru Residents Sue Over Demolitions, Claim Lack of Notice and Compensation
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In a public interest litigation filed at the Karnataka High Court, three former residents of Wasim Colony and Fakir Colony in Bengaluru have challenged the government's recent demolitions of alleged encroachments. The petitioners, Jaiba Tabassum, Rehana, and Arif Begum, claim that over 300 houses were demolished without prior notice, violating Supreme Court guidelines. According to the petition, civic authorities failed to issue show-cause notices and provide a 15-day window before the demolitions. The action also destroyed essential belongings of students living in nearby government schools, including textbooks, uniforms, and hall tickets. The petitioners have sought immediate rehabilitation for the displaced families, to be conducted within a five-kilometer radius, as well as compensation for the demolished homes and medical treatment for those injured during the eviction process. In a contradictory statement, state urban development minister Byrathi Suresh claimed that only 90 families were eligible for rehousing, and that housing would not be provided to outsiders or ineligible persons. The minister maintained that the government follows a 'caste, class, or community-neutral' approach, and that eligible families from all backgrounds would be considered for rehousing.
