Delhi Court Halts DDA’s Demolition Plan, Offers Relief to Batla House Residents
Delhi, June 13, 2025 — The Delhi High Court has temporarily stopped the planned removal of multiple residential structures in the Okhla region, following a legal challenge raised by affected homeowners. The case concerns 11 buildings in Batla House, where notices for demolition were issued by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
The legal action was brought forth by local residents who argued that the notices were unjust and that the DDA failed to follow proper legal procedures. Their petition was heard by Justice Tejas Karia, who passed an interim stay on the proposed action. The case has now been scheduled for further hearing on July 10, 2025.
According to the arguments presented, many of the listed properties do not fall within the officially identified plot, Khasra Number 279. Out of the eleven, only two structures—linked to Qademul Faraz and Nassu Ahmed—are said to be located within that area. However, petitioners claim that those properties qualify for protection under the PM UDAY Scheme, a government program aimed at regularizing unauthorized constructions.
The petition was filed by Mohammad Tamsil Quddusi and ten others, represented legally by advocate Fahad Khan. The court noted that proper notice procedures were likely not followed before pasting eviction warnings at the premises.
The High Court has also asked the petitioners to withdraw their earlier plea from the Supreme Court to continue with the interim relief granted in this case.
This legal intervention highlights the growing tension between urban regulatory bodies and long-time residents of informal localities in Delhi. For now, the families facing demolition have gained a temporary but crucial reprieve.
