Right to Reside Anywhere in India: SC Reverses Eviction of Migrant Workers in Urban Colonies
In early 2025, over 300 migrant workers living in a government-ignored Delhi slum were evicted overnight, allegedly to “beautify the area” ahead of an international summit.
No notice. No rehabilitation plan. Just bulldozers.
Their case reached the Supreme Court, and the bench reminded the country: “Right to residence is not decided by aesthetics—but by the Constitution.”
Legal Framework
Article 19(1)(e) guarantees every Indian citizen the right to reside and settle in any part of the country, subject to reasonable restrictions.
In this case, the restrictions didn’t exist—just administrative convenience.
What the Court Ruled
- No eviction can happen without notice, hearing, or resettlement
- Migrant workers contribute to the economy and cannot be treated as encroachments
- Urban development must be inclusive, not elitist
“A citizen’s dignity does not depend on his income or address,” the Court declared.
Impact
- Strengthens housing rights for informal workers and urban poor
- Mandates rehabilitation policies for future evictions
- Empowers citizens to challenge illegal displacement
To reside freely is not just to have a roof—it’s to belong, equally and lawfully.
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