Fresh notices have been served to several houses in Muradi Road, Batla House, on Monday based on Supreme Court directive. This case is new as notices have been served on houses of Khasra number 279, said residents. According to the fresh notices in Batla House pasted on several houses, they pointed out that the houses and shops were built on DDA land and encroached and unauthorised.
A resident, who didn’t give his name, told the OT that his family has been residing in the house since 1984 and they have no other place to go as the notice period to vacate the houses are of just 15 days. He said residents will approach the court to take legal recourse.
This case is different from khasra number 277 in which residents had got notice a few days ago from the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department. It is understood that residents have decided to approach to court for stay order.
The Supreme Court in first week of May had directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to take action against illegal structures spread over more than 4 bighas of public land in Khasra No. 279 in Okhla Village.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan asked the authority to file a compliance affidavit within three months. “We direct DDA to take action of demolition in accordance with law in respect of the unauthorised structures in the area of 2 bighas and 10 biswas. We make it clear that when we say due process of law, before demolition of any structure at least 15 days notice shall be served upon the concerned persons,” the bench said.
According to residents, police reached the area to put the notice triggering panic among them. Residents came out of their houses to know what exactly the notice was about.
This time around the notice was put in both English and Hindi. The 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.
“And whereas, this building/structure has been found to be an illegal/unauthorised structure falling in khasra number 279 village Okhla outside PMA-UDAY colony boundary. Now therefore in pursuance with the directions of the SC to take action of demolition in accordance with law in respect of illegal/unauthorised structures and in order to recover precious DDA/Government land, the occupants of this building/structure are hereby directed to vacate the premise within 15 days of issuance of this notice. The demolition programmer shall be carried out from 11-0602025 without any further notice. The occupants of this building/structure have been duly warned.”
The latest development has left residents deeply distressed. Many are unsure where to go, as the demolition drive — according to the notice — is scheduled just days after Eid-ul-Adha. Since the Supreme Court’s order, residents had been anxiously awaiting the official notice.
The OT could not confirm whether residents or local leaders plan to approach the Supreme Court for relief or pursue any legal action.
Former Congress Councillor Shoaib Danish was present at the site. Days earlier, following the Supreme Court’s directive, he had told OT that the move would be devastating for residents who have been living in the buildings and flats for years.
Some residents suspected that action was imminent when buses filled with security forces arrived in the area earlier in the day. This development follows another recent notice — issued by the UP Irrigation Department —regarding land in a neighboring khasra on Muradi Road, the residents of which have decided to take legal recourse.
A concerned resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said homebuyers must exercise extreme caution and thoroughly verify all documents before purchasing any property in Jamia Nagar, as many builders and land dealers cannot be trusted.
