7 families plead for relief after court-ordered eviction
Amid torrential downpours, seven impoverished Scheduled Caste (SC) families in Bassa gram panchayat of Kangra’s Jawali Assembly constituency were forced to spend a harrowing Sunday night in the open, following the demolition of their homes on court orders. The families, including small children and elderly members, were left sheltering under thin plastic sheets after being evicted from the land they had lived on for generations.
The eviction came after the Civil Court in Jawali ruled in favour of Ashok Kumar, the legal landowner, who claimed ownership of the land. According to the affected families, their ancestors were settled on the land by Ashok Kumar’s forefathers nearly a century ago. Living in abject poverty and unaware of legal recourse, the families say they had neither the means nor the knowledge to appeal the court’s decision.
Rajni Devi, one of the victims, along with her sons Sajan and Kamal, recounted their traumatic experience. “Not only did we lose our homes built under government housing schemes, but all our belongings, including food and essential supplies, were destroyed. The room where everything was stored was razed without giving us enough time to vacate,” she said. “We have no food, no money and nowhere to go.”
Another victim, Purna Devi, who lost her husband two years ago, now struggles to survive with her visually impaired son and daughter. The house they were living in, built with a government grant, was also torn down. “I earn just Rs 2,500 a month working from 10 am to 6 pm. No government official or political leader has even visited us. Our children are suffering the most,” she said, her voice choked with emotion.
The evicted families, most of whom survive as daily wage labourers, have since been living in makeshift shelters or crammed into the homes of sympathetic neighbours. Locals have come forward to provide plastic sheets and some financial aid on humanitarian grounds. However, official support remains absent.
Despite the gravity of the situation, no representative from the district administration or local political leadership has approached the families to offer any assistance, temporary shelter, or even basic rations. The silence from the authorities has added to the agony of these displaced families, who have now publicly appealed to the state government for immediate relief and rehabilitation.
Their only hope now rests on the state’s intervention. “We have lived here for generations. We do not want luxury, just a roof and some food for our children. Is that too much to ask?” pleaded one of the victims. This incident has sparked concerns over the vulnerability of marginalised communities who, despite being legal beneficiaries of government schemes, are rendered voiceless when caught in legal and bureaucratic crossfires. The families’ plight serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for compassionate governance, legal aid for the poor, and protection of basic human rights.
Himachal Tribune