G.S. Kulkarni, J.

Prelude:-

1. This is yet another proceeding concerning a 'Slum Rehabilitation Scheme' on Government land, wherein the slum dwellers since the year 1997 have nurtured an unfulfilled dream to be rehabilitated in a permanent roof over their head and live in human conditions.

2. Before adverting to the case in hand, I may at the outset express concern on such issues which inhibit and hamper the Slum Redevelopment Schemes.

3. There is a wealth of decisions of the Supreme Court and this Court emphasizing on the expeditious and effective rehabilitation of slum dwellers, who live in inhuman conditions, so as to achieve in letter and spirit, the object and intention of a fairly old State legislation namely the "Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act 1971". Nonetheless, considering the volumes of disputes still reaching the Courts, it can certainly be said that time is ripe, if not too late, to ponder, whether things are realistically working in the right direction, to eradicate slums and rehabilitate the slum dwellers, with the desired efficacy and expedition. This not only at the hands of the authorities but also at the hands of the ot