Mumbai mob takeover springs from slum rehab policy: HC

“This government is spineless and it is because of its policies regulating slum dwellers that this situation of a mob taking over a government land has arose,” said the Bombay high court on Monday.

The court was hearing a petition filed by National Textile Corporation (NTC) seeking eviction of Ambedkar followers who have encroached on Indu Mills at Dadar since December 6.
“This is complete lawlessness; the government has encouraged crime by its policies, now they are considering regularising slums up to 2000,” the court said.  Additional solicitor general Darius Khambata, arguing for NTC, said: “It is being discussed that part of the 11.97 acre of mill land, which is in possession of the Centre, will be given for building the memorial.”

The court said the state government has to consider whether the policies for slum regularisation have been proper and this situation is not fallout of these policies.

The bench directed the state government to file its reply on Tuesday.