Delhi’s fragile refugee settlements teetered on the brink until the Supreme Court intervened, slamming the government for neglecting housing needs of Pakistani Hindus post-citizenship. Centered at Signature Bridge’s Yamuna floodplains, 250-plus families—mostly Scheduled Castes—brace against DDA’s encroachment crackdown.
These migrants braved cross-border perils to escape faith-based violence, arriving with dreams of safety. Many now clutch citizenship papers, others navigate applications, but all share slum-like hardships. A Delhi High Court nod for demolitions in 2025 spurred their top-court plea.
The bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh invoked Article 21 robustly: ‘Dignity demands more than documents—shelter is fundamental.’ Interim protection was granted, alongside notices demanding Centre-DDA accountability in four weeks.
Personal stories paint a grim picture: Pakistani scorn as ‘unbelievers,’ Indian hurdles turned hope via citizenship, now overshadowed by displacement dread. Daily wagers in menial roles sustain them tenuously.
This development underscores refugee rights in India’s legal landscape, pressing for comprehensive rehab policies. Outcomes here may reshape how the nation honors its humanitarian commitments.