Land near Vasant Kunj lies vacant, more than 150 Dalit families await their plots promised 40 yrs ago

In 1983, at least 153 landless Dalit families were allotted 120-square-yard plots under a scheme of the central government in Rangpuri village abutting Vasant Kunj in South Delhi.

Forty-two years later, wild kikar grows on the vacant land, and transporters park buses and trucks on it. There is no sign of the staff quarters for which the Delhi government had acquired a part of the land in 2012.

The matter has been in court for more than 30 years, and the Delhi High Court said almost a decade and a half ago that the intended beneficiaries should get their due. In 2016, following a direction of the Supreme Court, the HC began suo motu contempt proceedings against the authorities.

The government has told the court that the allotted land is not available. In lieu of the plots, the 153 fami