The Uttarakhand High Court has put a temporary halt on the demolition of homes belonging to slum dwellers in Dehradun’s Vikas Nagar area, observing that the notices issued violated the principles of natural justice.

Taking urgent cognizance of the matter, a division bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Ashish Naithani heard the public interest litigation (PIL) on Saturday. The bench noted that the demolition notices were served without giving the affected residents an opportunity to be heard — a clear violation of due process.

As per the PIL, the petitioners are lawful citizens residing in various villages within the Vikas Nagar region. They received demolition notices on April 5, which stated their homes would be razed for allegedly encroaching on water bodies, seasonal streams, and drains.

However, the petitioners have contested the claim, stating that the administration issued the notices without proper verification of property details. The plea emphasized that most of the affected residents belong to economically weaker sections, are illiterate, and were unaware of the implications of such notices.

It was further argued that many of those served with demolition orders hold valid documents proving their ownership and that their properties are not located on or near any water bodies. Satellite imagery submitted in court reportedly supports this claim, showing that the concerned dwellings are situated at a distance from the seasonal streams and drains.

The High Court has ordered that the demolition be stayed until further notice.