Mumbai attack victim will be given a house under ESW quota; Government gave information to the High Court

The Maharashtra government has given information to the Bombay High Court regarding the matter of providing accommodation to Devika Rotawan, who survived the Mumbai terrorist attack on 26 November 2008. Additional government counsel Jyoti Chavan, appearing for the government, told the court that the government has decided to allot a house to Devika Rotawan under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). The government has given this information after being reprimanded by the High Court two weeks ago. The High Court had told the government that it had failed to consider this matter with sensitivity and basic human rights. Also, the High Court had asked the Maharashtra government to reconsider regarding allotment of a house to the victim of a terrorist attack.
 
A division bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Firdosh Pooniwala was informed by additional government counsel Jyoti Chavan during the hearing on Wednesday that Rotavan had been turned over by the state housing department to MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority) or SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) under the EWS scheme. Authority) has chosen to distribute homes under. He also said that in six months the victim will receive a house. The government was provided with information, and the court found this decision to be appreciative. The court expressed its appreciation for the housing minister's decision. which, in our opinion, has provided the petitioner with actual justice given the suffering he has endured over the years. Along with this, the court while disposing of the case said that the possession of the house should be handed over to him within six months.

Devika Rotawan, who survived the Mumbai terrorist attack, approached the court in the year 2020 citing her financial condition. Her lawyer had argued in the court that terrorism victim Rotawan had suffered from a disability and living in poverty since the age of nine. In his petition, he demanded the government to allot him a house. Rotawan said in his petition that he was shot in the leg and his father and brother were also injured. It said that due to various diseases his father and brother cannot earn livelihood. He and his family are living in poverty and will become homeless because they have not been able to pay the rent on their house.

The government had initially argued that it had already compensated Rotawan. However, the High Court said last month that she was a victim of a terrorist attack and was living her life with disability and poverty. The court had also directed that it reconsider his plea for allotment of the house.