Pay Rs 15,000 as rent to displaced Mumbai toxic hell Mahul residents: SC orders

By A Representative
The Supreme Court (SC) has disposed of Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the Mumbai High Court’s (HC's) order which had directed the Maharashtra government to pay Rs 15,000 rent to Mahul residents so as to enable them to move out of Mahul.
The HC in April this year gave this direction after it was established that the toxic atmosphere in Mahul is a threat to the lives of the residents living there. However, the Maharashtra government appealed against the HC order in SC.
Claiming that the Maharashtra government's appeal was based on "false reports", Mumbai's Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao (GBGB) housing rights movement, said the SC "made it clear that there is no ground to give any clarification for disposing of the matter."
The SC order is a major setback to the Mumbai authorities, who were forcing slum dwellers to go Mahul. SC directed the slum dwellers to vacate their houses and accept the accommodation offered by the government.
"As of today, the order of the Mumbai High Court stands unchallenged. Now the government cannot force anyone to go to Mahul. It is the victory of the perseverant struggle led by the residents of Mahul who continue to sit of dharna till today since October 2018. The struggle will continue until everyone living in Mahul gets safe and clean housing", GBGB said.

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