The Batla House demolition case continues to be a focal point in Okhla, especially among residents and families whose relatives live in Khasra 279, an area the DDA marked as illegal, giving residents a 15-day notice to vacate. This deadline expired on June 11 as the DDA moved in accordance with a Supreme Court order. Since then, affected residents have approached the courts seeking temporary relief, and “all have succeeded in securing it”.
Amanatullah’s video message in Batla House demolition case
On Monday, Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan released a video message in Hindi related to Batla House demolition case. Below is a rough English translation of his statement: “…Today, seven cases related to the matter were listed in the High Court. In all seven property cases, a stay was granted. Fahad Khan, who is representing the residents as a lawyer, appeared in court today. This is good news for the entire Okhla community, as the Delhi High Court has granted a stay until July 10.
“Everyone fought this matter with great effort and dedication. I want to thank all those who prayed, all those who stood by us, and especially the lawyers who worked hard and extended their full support. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who stood with us.
“A major crisis that was looming over Batla House’s Muradi Road from the DDA has now been, to some extent, averted. …in the days to come, we will achieve complete victory in this matter.
“I also want to clarify that the part which the DDA wants to demolish was fully authorised. Batla House was authorised in 1998… this section is part of that authorised area. It does not fall under the PM-UDAY scheme, nor is it considered unauthorised, which is why this issue arose in the first place.
If re-demarcation is done, everything will become clear: Amanatullah
“If a re-demarcation is done, everything will become clear. The DDA’s claim that these Batla House properties are encroachments is incorrect. Once proper demarcation happens, all the facts will come to light. All properties, shops, and homes in the area will remain safe. In total, there were 246 properties and 31 shops that were at some level of risk. Today, all have received relief. Once again, I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who prayed, supported, and stood with us throughout. We are also grateful to the legal team for their tireless efforts.”
Residents who had lost sleep after receiving eviction notices in the Batla House demolition case and watching the deadline expire have now heaved a sigh of relief. However, the arrival of police barricades in the affected locality a few days ago had triggered tension among them. With interim relief granted in the Batla House demolition case, there is renewed hope that justice will prevail and they won’t lose their homes which they claimed to have been living in for decades, with some saying for 50 years or more.
Interim relief until July 10 on remaining 7 properties: Tahir
Sharing the development on Batla House demolition case with the OT, Tahir Ali said: “Thank God, the High Court has granted a stay until July 10 on the remaining 7 properties. Almost all properties have now received a stay.” Social activist Tahir played a leading role in the legal battle, assisting affected residents in gathering essential documents to strengthen their cases in court.
The DDA notice said: “Whereas, the land of Khasra number 279 village Okhla is acquired DDA/Government land…and a part of the subject land has unauthorised encroachment. And whereas, the Supreme Court…has directed the Delhi Development Authority and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi to take action of demolition of illegal/unauthorised structures in said Khasra number 279 village Okhla in relation to the area lying outside PM-UDAY colony boundary. And whereas the SC has directed that such action shall be taken after giving 15 days notice to the occupants of such illegal/unauthorised structures.”
Reacting to a video posted on the OT’s social media platform, Firoz Muzaffar, whose house was also marked for proposed demolition, wrote: “Amanatullah Khan played a very important role; he stood by everyone like a guardian. If only all the leaders of Okhla had united on this issue.”
Earlier, he had told the OT that his house was wrongly marked, as it does not fall under Khasra number 279. Several residents have approached the courts and secured temporary stays, arguing that their properties were mistakenly identified by the DDA and do not fall within Khasra number 279.
A mother of two school-going children, whose husband lives abroad, said she had bought the property years ago by selling her ancestral land in a city in Bihar. Now, the threat of demolition looms over the colony. “When we bought the house, we had no idea that a day would come when eviction notices would be pasted on our doors. We don’t know where we will go,” she said.
Residents feeling sense of relief and reduced tension
However, after the interim relief, many residents are feeling a sense of relief and reduced tension.
A resident, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the past few days had been an ordeal. Families were deeply disturbed by the developments and had spent sleepless nights, anxious about an uncertain future, he said.
Another resident, Sarfraz, who bought a flat in the locality after saving for years, said ever since the eviction notice arrived, he has been unable to focus on his children’s education. “Their studies have completely gone off track. I used to personally guide them and monitor their progress every day. But for the past 15 days or more, I, along with other affected residents, have been so caught up in paperwork and court proceedings that I couldn’t give them any attention,” he said.
“It’s very hard to build a house, and losing it has a devastating impact on a child’s future,” he said.
Sarfraz said the interim relief has brought a sense of normalcy to some extent. Like him, other residents are also praying and hoping for justice, so that their homes remain safe.
Demolition drives are underway across Delhi as part of efforts to clear encroached land. In early May, demolitions were carried out in Taimoor Nagar and then in Khizrabad, neighbouring areas of Okhla. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had launched a demolition drive in these areas targeting unauthorised houses built along a critical drainage line, following directions from the Delhi High Court. According to media reports, in the drive which lasted for days, around 100 structures were demolished amid heavy police deployment.
