New Delhi, Sep 7: The Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN) has released a troubling report detailing the alarming rise in forced evictions across India. Titled “Forced Evictions in India: 2022 & 2023,” the report reveals that over the past two years, 7.4 lakh people have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to state-led demolition drives, highlighting a deepening crisis of homelessness and landlessness in the country, reported The Print.
The report documents that between January 2022 and December 2023, more than 1.5 lakh homes were demolished across India, with 515,752 people being evicted in 2023 alone. This represents an unprecedented surge in evictions, with an average of 294 homes being destroyed each day and 58 people being evicted every hour last year.
HRLN’s findings indicate that 31% of those evicted belonged to historically marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, nomadic communities, migrant workers, and religious minorities. The majority of these evictions were carried out under the pretext of slum clearance, encroachment removal, and city beautification projects, which accounted for 58.7% of the total. Other reasons included infrastructure development, environmental conservation, and disaster management.
Delhi was identified as the region most severely impacted, with 78 incidents of forced evictions recorded in 2022 and 2023, leading to the displacement of approximately 2.8 lakh people last year alone. Despite the severe impact on affected individuals, HRLN reports that in 82% of cases in 2023, and 58% in 2022, no alternative housing or rehabilitation was provided, leaving thousands without shelter or support.
The report criticizes the government for failing to adhere to legal procedures and international human rights standards. It points out that many evictions were carried out without due process, violating Indian legal frameworks such as the Sudama Singh and Ajay Maken judgments of the Delhi High Court, which mandate proper resettlement measures. This non-compliance has led to widespread violations of human rights, including the rights to adequate housing, food, health, and education.
HRLN has called on the government to impose an immediate moratorium on all evictions until proper procedures are followed and alternative housing is guaranteed. The organization also recommends recognizing informal settlements as legitimate housing clusters and preventing the use of demolitions as punitive measures against vulnerable communities.
With nearly 17 million people across India still living under the threat of eviction, HRLN stresses the urgent need for the government to uphold housing rights and provide immediate rehabilitation for those already displaced. The report serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing housing crisis in India and the need for urgent action to protect the rights and dignity of marginalized communities.
The full report is available for public review on HRLN’s official website.
