39 families that failed to prove that they are genuine riot victims, previously residents of SAS Nagar Mohali Phase XI, had been occupying the flats for 40 years. These flats were meant for the rehabilitation of victims of the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, those who had received the ‘red card’ by the state for identification as genuine victims.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India gave directions to the Punjab Government to arrange for accommodation for the 39 families that have been evicted, within four weeks. The court also ordered the state government to envisage a wholesome approach and work towards attaining the position where they can balance equities.
A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan also sought an understanding on whether there are any other premises in Mohali, or adjoining areas, where the genuine families of the EWS category, that also possess the ‘red card’ can be accommodated. The state authorities, however, submitted that the possession of the flats by the 39 families in SAS Nagar, need to be evicted and be given to ‘genuine families’ of the economically weaker section group that are in need of shelter.
Anti-Sikh riots, a marked tragedy in India’s history
The anti-Sikh riots in 1984, followed as an aftermath of the assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India then, by her Sikh bodyguards. It is said that Mrs. Indira Gandhi had caused much anguish to the Sikh community by passing orders for ‘Operation Blue Star’ at the Golden Temple in order to remove militant Sikh separatists from there. It resulted in the death of hundreds of pilgrims and caused damage to the Golden Temple complex and Akal Takht. Mrs. Indira Gandhi aimed to target the growing separatist movement amongst Sikhs.
The 1984 massacre against the Sikh community was a planned and organised series of homicides. Although, the different sources on the records of the number of deaths differ, the Indian government has recognised the death count to be 2,800 in Delhi, and 3,350 in other parts of the nation, while other sources have made the estimate of the number of deaths that occurred during the anti-Sikh violence to be 8,000-17,000.
Indian government was considered liable by the United States
The government had also reported that following the massacre, 20,000 Sikh civilians had to flee from the city, and it also resulted in atleast least 1,000 displaced persons. Akal Takht, a governing body of Sikhism, refers to these killings as ‘genocide.’ The United States of America acknowledged that ‘grave human rights violations’ had occurred under the rule of the Indian National Congress, as they were understood to be playing the game of ‘opportunism.’ The CBI believes that the riots had the support of some central government officials and Delhi Police in their occurrence.
