SC Refuses To Interfere With Demolition Notices To Batla House Residents

The notices cite encroachment on Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Control Department land. A separate plea challenging Okhla demolitions will be heard in July.

The Supreme Court declined to halt demolition notices for Batla House properties in Delhi's Jamia Nagar, directing residents to seek recourse with relevant authorities.

Source : PTI

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the demolition notices issued to the property owners at Batla House in Delhi's Jamia Nagar. 

The apex court, hearing the petition from 40 residents who sought a stay on the demolition order, asked them to approach the appropriate authorities.

The notices, dated May 22, were pasted on affected properties, stating: "Everyone is informed that encroachment has been done in Okhla, 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".

Plea To Be Heard In July 

The bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma has said that it would hear the plea challenging the proposed demolition of certain alleged unauthorised structures at Okhla village in July.

Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde referred to a May 7 order of the top court directing the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to demolish unauthorised structures and encroachments in Okhla village in accordance with the law.

Aam Aamdi Party MLA from Okhla, Amanatuallah Khan said that the settlement in question has been in existence for the last 40 years and is now unauthorised regularised. 

"We have got relief from the Supreme Court that a regular bench will hear this case in July after the court reopens," he told reporters outside the Supreme Court. 

"The families who were going to be affected, have been asked to file applications under the PM-UDAY... This settlement has existed for the last 40 years and is now unauthorised regularised... The colony is already protected. The DDA has wrongfully used the pick and choose way and has misreported...," he added.