Title: Judicial discourse on 'slum' and the state practice of demolition and forced eviction in urban India

Authors: Deepak Kumar

Addresses: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Campus, New Delhi, 110067, India

Abstract: An attempt has been made in this article to explore the emerging judicial discourse surrounding 'slum'1 and its impact on the state practice of demolition and forced eviction of 'slum-dwellers'2 in urban India. It examines the cases of eviction in metros and court orders in some of these and other related cases legitimising demolition, evictions and relocation of families. The discourses of 'illegality', 'encroachment' and 'development' stand questioned here. And the 'larger public interest' discourse, it is argued, presents urban governance challenge having implications on the citizenship rights and its realisation in cities.

Keywords: slum; right to the city; encroachment; development; citizenship; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2023.131847

International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, 2023 Vol.10 No.3, pp.199 - 212

Received: 29 Mar 2022
Accepted: 20 Apr 2022

Published online: 04 Jul 2023 *

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