On October 8, 2025, a substantial police force accompanied by a demolition squad executed a clearance drive to demolish 172 illegal huts in Sector 12A, Gurugram, located on Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) government land.

The operation sparked protests from residents and political representatives who descried the action as unjust due to inadequate rehabilitation measures. Officials stated that the eviction targeted only unauthorised structures obstructing government development plans, assuring legal hut owners that housing allotment under the Aashiyana Scheme will be provided soon.

Though the police maintained order, tensions ran high as some protestors were briefly detained. This eviction drive underscores the ongoing conflict between urban expansion demands and the rights of slum dwellers.

Demolition Drive Meets Resistance Alongside Legal Clarifications

The demolition began around noon, with hundreds of police personnel deployed to maintain law and order around the densely populated slum area. The demolition squad used earthmovers and bulldozers to dismantle unauthorised huts while ensuring no major law and order incidents occurred. Residents gathered in large numbers to protest the action through slogans and placards, urging the government to first provide rehabilitation and legal housing solutions.

Political figures from the Congress party joined these protests, amplifying the call for humane treatment and timely allotments before forced evictions. Officials from HSVP explained that all eviction notices had been served for years, and the operation focused exclusively on illegal huts-the 86 huts legally recognised under the Aashiyana housing scheme were spared from demolition.

The district nodal officer, RS Bhath, emphasized that those owning legal structures would soon receive flats under the scheme, acknowledging some delays due to legal processes but affirming that rehabilitation remained a priority. Despite the tense atmosphere, police only detained a few protesters temporarily, who were later released, bringing the day’s events to a close without major physical confrontations.

Historical and Administrative Context of Sector 12A Slum

The settlement in Sector 12A has a long history stretching back nearly two decades, originally comprising 86 huts in 2010 and expanding to over 250 due to ongoing urban migration and housing shortage. The HSVP had promised alternative housing to the original hut owners based on court directives and the state’s Aashiyana rehabilitation scheme-designed to provide affordable housing to slum dwellers displaced by urban development. Nevertheless, protracted legal battles and administrative delays have slowed the implementation of these promises, creating a growing sense of despair among residents.

The area’s location on government land earmarked for road widening and infrastructure projects gave rise to the eviction notification. Authorities cited not only urban plan requirements but also complaints of illicit activities in the slum as reasons for clearance.

Opposition parties condemned the demolitions as harsh and lacking empathy, arguing for more robust rehabilitation plans before clearance. Simultaneously, some middle-class neighbourhood residents expressed concerns about integrating resettled families, highlighting the social complexities tied to urban renewal efforts.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

This eviction incident reveals the deeper challenges of balancing urban growth with social justice. The Logical Indian recognises the government’s responsibility to regulate land use and facilitate planned development. Yet, eviction drives without timely and assured rehabilitation jeopardise livelihoods and exacerbate vulnerability for families already facing economic insecurity.

Compassionate urban policy requires transparency, inclusion, and effective coordination across government agencies to ensure displaced residents gain decent housing before demolition proceeds.

The Logical Indian urges authorities to prioritise dialogues with affected communities, implement expedited housing allotments, and offer social support systems that facilitate smoother transitions.