Delhi HC gives interim relief to property owners in Batla House

The Delhi High Court on Monday ordered status quo till July 10 on the demolition notices issued by the Delhi Development Authority against seven residents of Okhla’s Batla House area.

The court posted the matter for hearing on July 10, when the other petitions related to the demolitions in the area are also scheduled for hearing.

The counsel for the petitioners argued that the DDA and the Delhi government had “indiscriminately targeted properties beyond the identified area and without issuance of individual notices”.

The lawyer said that the petitioners’ properties were marked for demolition following a survey on June 4, and they were informed about an “imminent coercive action” despite the structures being outside the demolition zone and being covered under the PM-UDAY scheme, which gives legal property rights to people living in Delhi’s unauthorised colonies.

“No demarcation report or verification of PM-UDAY eligibility has been provided to the petitioners till date. The threatened action thus amounts to a clear violation of the principles of natural justice, the right to livelihood and the equal protection guaranteed under the Constitution,” argued the plea.

The petitioners also referred to the interim protection granted by the court to other similarly placed persons.

On July 16, the court ordered a similar status quo while hearing a batch of pleas against the DDA demolition order.

The Supreme Court had on May 7 ordered the urban body to demolish unauthorised structures on “Khasra number 279” in the area, spread across 0.702 hectares along the Muradi Road in Okhla.