‘Why no representation for slum dwellers, no action against influential?’

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand high court on Saturday provisionally stayed the demolition of slum dwellers' homes in Dehradun's Vikas Nagar area and questioned the state govt for "not giving them a chance to be heard, while influential encroachers remained untouched".
Despite it being a holiday, a special hearing was held by the bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Ashish Naithani to hear petitions filed by affected residents. The court asked the govt to explain the situation by April 15.
Petitioners' counsel Abhijay Negi told the court that on April 5, the administration issued notices to around 20 slum dwellers asking them to vacate encroachments within three days. However, he pointed out that the SDM's report also mentioned encroachments by two influential individuals who allegedly faced no action. "No steps were taken against those dumping sand in rivers and streams," he added.
The bench expressed strong disapproval and stayed the implementation of the eviction notices. Advocate general SN Babulkar and chief standing counsel Chandrashekhar Rawat, representing the state, said "prior warnings had been issued to the notice recipients".
Separately, residents Ajay Narayan Sharma, Reenu Paul, and Urmila Thapar filed PILs over widespread construction on submerged land in Sahastradhara, threatening local water sources. Another petition raised concerns over illegal construction on streams, canals, and hills in Rishikesh. According to the plea, encroachments span about 100 acres in Dehradun, 140 acres in Vikas Nagar, 15 acres in Rishikesh, and another 15 acres in Doiwala, all on river land.