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The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Gujarat slum dwellers to complete all the necessary formalities within three weeks to enable the competent authority to proceed with the allotment of accommodation to them under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna.

A bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice CT Ravikumar also noted that the court has perused another status report filed by the Deputy Collector, Surat indicating a breakup of the solatium amount and there is no dispute over the same. The bench has listed the matter in the Month of July for further hearing.

It was submitted before the bench that there are around 200 applicants whose applications have been rejected on the basis of incomplete formalities for claiming the benefit under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna.

The bench was hearing a plea challenging order of the Gujarat High Court in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) directing eviction of over 10,000 slum dwellers living near the railway lines in the city of Surat in Gujarat, alleging that demolition without providing a rehabilitation scheme is illegal, and violates Article 21.

Earlier, Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves appearing for the slum dwellers had submitted that "the authority is asking for Income Tax Certificates and our incomes are less than taxable income."

To which the bench had asked the slum dwellers to approach appropriate authority over the issues being faced by them while making applications under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna for rehabilitation post demolition of their slum near railway lines in Surat, Gujarat.

Earlier, the government of Gujarat had informed the bench that every possible effort is being made for the rehabilitation of these slum dwellers, the petitioners will be provided rehabilitation under the PM Awas Yojana.

Case Title: Utran Se Besthan Railway Jhopadpatti Vikas Mandal vs Government of India & Ors