India, Sept. 1 -- In a ruling that may impact several slum rehabilitation schemes across the city, the Bombay High Court last week dismissed an in-situ rehabilitation plea by slum dwellers affected by a redevelopment project, saying, "Mere right of rehabilitation cannot be recognised to be equivalent to a right of ownership."

A division bench of justices Suman Shyam and Advait Sethna also observed in their order of August 25 that with the "avalanche of disputes" under the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971 that come before the High Court, the court had earlier recorded that "such claims of in situ rehabilitation find no justification within our constitutional scheme and is unconscionable (sic)". ...