Khori Gaon demolition: SC says somebody has to be held responsible for happenings

‘The mushrooming of the forest area into slums, action not being taken despite court orders,’ it notes

The Supreme Court on Monday said it intended to hold somebody responsible for the series of events that led to the demolition of unauthorised residential buildings constructed on forest land in Khori Gaon village in Haryana and displacement of hundreds of families who lived there. “The mushrooming of the forest area into slums, action not being taken despite court orders... We will have to hold somebody responsible for all of this,” Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, heading a Special Bench, addressed the State government and the Faridabad Municipal Corporation. The court disagreed with the submission made by the government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, that identification of forest and non-forest areas in the locality in question would take long because of the expanse of the land in question. It said forest areas across the country were already identified and notified. “It should not take time to identify the area,” it observed.