India, May 12 -- The Delhi High Court on Monday directed over 350 residents of three slum clusters near the Prime Minister's residence in the Race Course area to vacate the camps within 15 days and shift to alternative accommodation arranged by the authorities.

A bench headed by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed that the prevailing geopolitical situation and the national security concerns raised by the Centre constituted sufficient grounds for the residents' eviction.

In its 26-page ruling, the court acknowledged that the residents' rights to shelter and livelihood under Article 21 of the Constitution are intrinsically linked to the fundamental right to life, and that violation of one would generally affect the others. However,...