NEW DELHI: Panic and fear swept through Batla House in Delhi’s Okhla after demolition notices were suddenly pasted on more than 50 residential and commercial buildings along Muradi Road as per a report by the Okhla Times. Issued jointly by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, the notices set off widespread anxiety among residents, many of whom have lived there for over four decades.
The DDA notice claims the demolitions are in line with a Supreme Court order dated May 7, 2025, targeting unauthorized structures in Khasra No. 279. It instructs occupants to vacate within 15 days, warning that demolitions will begin on June 11.
However, residents argue that the action is unjust and far exceeds the scope of the court’s order. They allege that notices have been served to buildings in Khasra Nos. 280, 282, 283, and 284—areas they claim are either protected under the PM-UDAY scheme or have no connection with the disputed land.
A long-time resident holding a court order stated, “The DDA is acting blindly. Even properties outside the 2 bigha 9 biswa area mentioned by the court are being targeted. The remaining 3 bigha 5 biswa is protected under PM-UDAY. This is a violation of the Supreme Court order.”
Residents also pointed out the inconsistent and arbitrary nature of the notices, with some structures receiving them while adjacent ones did not. “One house got a notice, the next one didn’t. This is absurd and unjust,” said a resident named Javed.
The official DDA notice, dated May 26, 2025, claims that the structures identified fall within the disputed area of Khasra No. 279, outside the PM-UDAY colony boundary, and must be demolished in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive. It clearly states that no further notice will be issued.
Despite this, locals assert that buildings protected under the PM-UDAY scheme, including homes, bakeries, showrooms, and hotels, have also received notices.
Advocate Ashraf, known for securing stays on previous demolition orders in Okhla’s Johri Farm, described the recent action as “tyrannical.” He said notices have also been issued to structures in Khasra No. 192, even though the UP Irrigation Department’s claim is for Khasra No. 191. “This is not even UP government land,” he asserted, adding that the department has failed to prove ownership in several similar cases.
Ashraf revealed that the court has already granted stays in two such cases and provided 15 days of relief in the Muradi Road case. He vowed to continue the legal fight, stating that the land in Okhla is governed under the Punjab Land Act—not the Delhi Land Reforms Act—and that the government is obligated to regularize colonies where 50–75% of the land is inhabited.
He questioned the sudden timing of the action. “If the land was acquired in 1982–83, where was the department all these years? Why did they allow roads, drainage, and power connections to be built?”
Meanwhile, reports emerged that similar notices were pasted last week on houses near Khizar Baba’s Dargah in Khasra No. 277 and earlier in Okhla Vihar Colony. In these areas too, residents have taken legal recourse and obtained stays on demolitions.
Mohammad Khalid, AAP’s Okhla in-charge and close aide of MLA Amanatullah Khan, confirmed that court stays have already been secured in Ghaffar Manzil, Johri Farm, and Okhla Vihar. He emphasized that legal proceedings are underway for Khasra No. 279 and denounced the DDA’s failure to carry out proper demarcation.
He argued that even if the land is needed for public projects, the government must provide alternative land and rehabilitation, which has not been done. He also referenced a Supreme Court ruling that offers protection to homes built before 2014, and noted that residents living continuously for over 12 years could claim ownership under limitation laws.
Khalid stressed the importance of regularization over demolition. “People have invested their life savings in these homes. The government’s job is to regularize—not destroy—such colonies.”
Adding to the anxiety, the UP Irrigation Department issued a Hindi-language notice targeting houses and shops near Khizar Baba’s Dargah, warning of demolition within 15 days. Similar demolitions were recently conducted in Taimoor Nagar and Khizrabad, where over 100 houses—many over 40 years old—were razed.
These actions have drawn sharp criticism from residents and civil society groups, who say the demolitions appear to disproportionately affect marginalized communities without due process or resettlement plans.
“Where was the government all these years?” asked a senior journalist from Johri Farm. “Why now, after decades of silence and neglect?”
