- By Shubham Bajpai
- Fri, 23 May 2025 02:18 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Okhla Buildings Demolition:The authorities have served demolition notices to several houses in Okhla's Jamia Nagar area, based on the Supreme Court directive.
The notices, dated May 22 said, "Everyone is informed that encroachment has been done inOkhla, Khizerbaba Colony, belonging to the Irrigation Control Department of Uttar Pradesh. The houses and shops on this land are illegal and should be removed in the next 15 days.”
On May 8, the Supreme Court issued a directive to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to carry out the demolition drive on unauthorised structures spread over more than 4 vighas of public land in Okhla villages as per the due process of law within three months.
Accordingly, a 15-day notice was to be served before demolition. The Supreme Court's order emanated from a contempt plea related to a non-compliance with a 2018 directive, in which an order was passed against illegal construction and encroachment on public land.
Which area is to be affected?
The disputed land measures 34 bighas and 8 biswas and is located between Muradi Road and Khalillulah Masjid in Batla House. The area is densely packed with residential buildings of up to five floors. Some of the oldest buildings in the area are reported to have been at the site for over 40 years.
ALSO READ: Okhla Landfill: 30 Acres Reclaimed, 56 Lakh MT Legacy Waste Processed
Out of a land measuring 34 bighas and 8 biswas, 13 bighas and 14 biswas is vacant, 11 bighas and 11 biswas falls under the UP Irrigation Department jurisdiction. The remaining 9 bighas and 3 biswas is occupied and were at the centre of the dispute.
Out of 9 bighas and 3 biswas, 5 bighas and 15 biswas is with the DDA while 3 bighas and 8 biswas is not in DDA's possession.
3 bighas and 5 biswas of the DDA land is protected under the Centre's PM-Uday scheme that offers recognition of property rights in unauthorised colonies, and the remaining 2 bighas and 10 biswas have to be demolished.
For the land not in DDA possession, the court directed the state government to step in and free the encroachment.
What did residents say?
MLA Amanatullah Khan's aide and a local resident, Mohammad Khalid told a local media portal India Tomorrow that the area includes subjudice plots near Peer Baba Dargah. The dargah is believed to be Delhi’s older shrine of Khwaja Khizr Baba, as well as land adjacent to Khalilullah Masjid.
According to the residents, they were unaware of the court order despite it being in public for over 15 days. The notices triggered panic in the locality. A local media outlet named India Tomorrow quoted a resident saying, "We didn’t receive any notice. If such actions are taken, we are ready to approach the courts. We’ve been living here for decades."