Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985)
⚖️ Landmark Case: Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985) 📝 Summary:The Olga Tellis judgment recognized the right to livelihood as a part of the right to life under Article 21, making it one of the earliest cases linking socio-economic rights to fundamental rights. 📚 Background In the early 1980s, many poor workers and families lived on pavements and slums in Mumbai. The Bombay Municipal Corporation decided to evict and demolish these settlements, citing them as illegal encroachments. Among the evicted was Olga Tellis, a journalist and social activist, who joined others in challenging the eviction in court. Their argument? That forcibly removing them would violate their right to life and livelihood under Article 21 of the Constitution. 🧑⚖️ Supreme Court Verdict The Court sided with the pavement dwellers, though it acknowledged that the occupation of public property was unlawful. Key rulings: Right to livelihood = Right to lifeArticle 21 was interpreted to include the right to livelihood, since without livelihood, life itself would be meaningless. Evictions must follow due processThe Court ruled that even if someone is squatting illegally, they must be given notice and a chance to be heardbefore eviction. Human dignity is centralThe judgment emphasized balancing urban planning with human rights, especially for vulnerable groups. 🧠 Significance Made socio-economic rights judicially enforceable. Strengthened the progressive interpretation of Article 21. A crucial precedent in human rights and urban poverty litigation. 🧩 Conclusion The Olga Tellis case marked a shift from viewing rights in a narrow, legalistic way to a more inclusive, humane, and dignity-based approach, especially for India’s urban poor.