7 June 2023, Khori Gaon
June 7th marks 2 years of the Supreme Court’s order for the demolition of Khori Gaon, a settlement where nearly 100,000 residents lived. Frustrated with the sluggish and unjust rehabilitation process, residents held a day-long sit-in-protest in front of the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF), near B.K. Chowk to demand justice.
When will we get adequate rehabilitation?
Why have our rehabilitation forms been rejected without providing any reason?
When will we get our due compensation?
Why have you stopped taking appeal applications?
Do we have no right to seek justice if we were not able to apply for rehabilitation on time?
Around 150 Khori Gaon residents, people from Jamai Colony, and other Faridabad settlements held a day-long sit-in protest in front of the Municipal Corporation office in Faridabad from 10:00 am and stood their ground till their demands were heard. When no one from the municipal office paid attention, Khori residents marched into the office and met Additional Commissioner Gaurav Antil. They put forth all their concerns one by one, including the issue of Yashi revenue survey. People demanded MCF set up a help desk at Radha Swami to facilitate a smooth appeal process and the issue of all remaining residents who have not been given rehabilitation was raised. A 5-page memorandum, with 11 demands, was submitted to him.
The residents went to meet B.S. Dhillon, Senior Architect at MCF, who is responsible for overseeing the rehabilitation process of Khori Gaon and requested he speaks to the residents and listens to their concerns. But unfortunately, Mr Dhillon refused to engage in any dialogue with them. He spoke with the residents in an extremely rude manner, however, the residents stood their ground and remained in place until MCF accepted the appeal forms.
The residents demanded to be treated with respect and dignity throughout the rehabilitation process. Additionally, the residents requested that those who were unable to submit their rehabilitation forms within the previous deadline be allowed to submit them now. They sought assurances from MCF that appeals and forms would be accepted, and that a proof of “receiving” would be provided upon acceptance. However, it remains to be seen whether MCF’s acceptance of the forms today was merely due to pressure or if they will genuinely take meaningful steps to address the residents’ concerns.
In 2021, the demolition took place amidst the pandemic, without conducting a survey or providing temporary shelter, leaving the residents to fend for themselves for months before the rehabilitation process even began. After two years, only 1,235 families, representing a mere 12 % of the population, have been deemed eligible for rehabilitation. Shockingly, despite possessing government documents, the Haryana government has refused to acknowledge the eligibility of the remaining families. Disturbingly, their own revenue survey conducted between 2018-19 revealed that 6,663 families resided in Khori Gaon, but this crucial information was swiftly deleted once it was brought to the attention of the Commissioner during the rehabilitation process.
Moreover, the so-called rehabilitation flats in Dabua remain uninhabitable, yet MCF continues to assert its readiness. After submitting false affidavits in court twice, the Commissioner was finally summoned on 16th May 2023 for non-compliance, prompting them to pay attention. However, a staggering 88 % of families still struggle to prove their eligibility. The rehabilitation process has been marred by unconstitutional practices. Out of around 10,000 families who resided in Khori Gaon, only 5168 were able to fill out the rehabilitation forms as the deadline for submission was not extended post-demolition even after repeated requests. Out of the 5168, 3933 residents’ applications have been rejected, while only 570 individuals managed to submit their appeals for the re-examination of their eligibility. To exacerbate matters, MCF has ceased accepting further appeal applications. By refusing to acknowledge the eligibility of the majority of Khori Gaon’s residents and failing to provide a fair appeal process, the state has unequivocally indicated that there is no place for these residents in the city.
During the protest, residents questioned Additional Commissioner, Gaurav Antil about the high number of rejections. In response, he argued that reasons were provided for each rejection. However, when people presented their rejection letters, which were clearly copy-pasted with no specific reasons given, he was unable to provide a satisfactory response. According to the Supreme Court order, applications are supposed to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. However, a template rejection reply was uploaded to the website. It was also brought to Mr. Antil’s notice that no individual communication has been sent to residents as mentioned in the policy.
The uninhabitable condition of Dabua colony was brought to his attention, with a specific focus on the concern about flooding during rains and internal seepage. In response, Mr. Antil stated that a committee has been formed to address these issues. However, specific information regarding the names of the committee members, planned work, and timelines was not provided during the discussion.
The copy of the memorandum that was submitted to the Municipal Corporation Faridabad today is attached.
Khori Gaon residents made these demands to the Commissioner –
1. We need answers why a survey was not carried out before demolition, no temporary shelter was provided nor was rehabilitation ensured before evicting us.
2. Since no survey was conducted before demolition MCF should accept our rehabilitation applications based on tangible contemporaneous records (similar documents that establish eligibility) as directed by the court.
3. We demand MCF set up a facilitation desk at Radha Swami Satsang, SurajKund, Faridabad, from where we can collect our rejection letters and file our appeals. And the appeal deadline should be extended for 1 month from the time the appeal process is initiated at Radha Swami
4. Since we were only given 15 days to submit our rehabilitation forms in 2021 after the court order and our repeated request to extend the deadline was ignored, MCF should also accept rehabilitation applications of those who were unable to submit it the last time.
5. To ensure accountability and smooth implementation of the housing policy, MCF should create a system where it is possible to check the status of each applicant’s rejection appeal on their website. Further, they should also create a grievance cell so that the residents can take their grievances regarding issues faced during eligibility determination and rehabilitation processes.
6. Why were the Yashi property survey details deleted from the website? Immediately upload all details to the website and place this information before the Supreme Court.
7. Full solatium has to be paid to each and every resident of Khori Gaon whose home was demolished. Since no survey was conducted, the rehabilitation eligibility list cannot be used for giving solatium. Here too it should be based on tangible contemporaneous records (similar documents that establish eligibility) as directed by the court.
8. All FIRs and cases lodged against residents during the forced eviction and for staying in Khori Gaon citing sections 188 and 447 should be dropped immediately and police should stop harassing them.
9. Rehabilitation promises of water, electricity, sanitation, access to health care, education and transport in consonance with ensuring human dignity of life as enshrined in Article 21 of the constitution should be followed in Dabua EWS flats.
10. Assurance was given in court that FIRs have been lodged against land mafias in the affidavit submitted on 22.07.2021. We want details of these FIRs. And we demand an update about what has happened to those mentioned in the FIRs. Why hasn’t anyone been caught after almost 2 years?
11. The other high-end developments, like hotels, farmhouses and institutions on PLPA land, should be treated the same way as Khori Gaon and other informal settlements. Why are the rich protected? Why are they still standing? If the government is thinking of legalising the farmhouses, then they would have to implement a plan to rehabilitate all uprooted Khori Gaon residents in Khori Gaon itself.
A charter of demands on behalf of all informal settlements in Faridabad highlighting the unlawful demolition of the working class people and violation of due process during evictions were also submitted. They demanded survey has to be conducted before demolition, a record of evictee has to be created, and rehabilitation cards have to be provided so that no residents struggle to prove their eligibility post demolition. The collective demands of Jamai colony, Mahalakshmi dera, Gadhakhor, Lakkarpur, Khori Gaon, Rajiv Nagar and Santosh Nagar residents of Faridabad are attached.
Khori Gaon 