New Delhi, Feb. 24 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Uttarakhand authorities to facilitate the rehabilitation of over 27,000 occupants residing near the Haldwani Railway Station by enabling them to apply for housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY).

The occupants are alleged to have encroached upon railway land, and eviction proceedings are underway.

A Bench comprising of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi refused to stay the eviction but acknowledged that thousands of families are likely to be uprooted. The Court, therefore, directed the State to verify their eligibility under PMAY and submit a detailed status report before the next hearing.

Clarifying its stance, the Bench orall...