Delhi: Okhla’s Long-Time Residents Face Bulldozer Threat

New Delhi: Residents of Batla House, living on Khasra Numbers 277 and 279, are grappling with the looming threat of demolition following notices issued by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on May 26. The notices, citing illegal constructions on government land, demand the removal of structures within 15 days, with demolitions set to commence on June 11.

The DDA’s notice, issued by the Deputy Director of LM South-East, targets Khasra No. 279, alleging encroachment on DDA-owned land. It references a Supreme Court order from July 5, which mandates action against unauthorized structures outside the PM-UDAY colony boundary. Residents have been given until the deadline to vacate or face demolition.

Similarly, the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department’s notice, signed by Ziledar Pratham of the Agra Canal Works Section in Okhla, addresses Khasra No. 277 in Khizar Baba Colony, Muradi Road. It declares the land as property of the Irrigation Department and orders residents to vacate the unauthorised houses and shops within the stipulated period, threatening legal action for non-compliance.

The notices have sparked fear and uncertainty among residents, many of whom face the prospect of losing their homes and livelihoods. As the deadline approaches, the community awaits clarity on their future, with demolitions looming just days away.

Mohammad Javed, a 60-year-old motorcycle mechanic who has been running a bike service shop in Khasra No. 277 for nearly 30 years, expressed his anguish over the notices. “I have been living in fear after receiving the demolition notice by the Irrigation Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Authorities have told us to vacate the houses and shops within 15 days. I have only one income source, and that is my bike service shop. This is one of the oldest bike shops in the Batla House area.”

Javed further claimed that four individuals— Mohammad Babbu, Dada Malla, Kali Jaitun, and himself—had earlier won the case against the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department in Saket court regarding land ownership. He asserted that the department has no legal claim to the land, explaining that the properties are located within the boundaries of Okhla village, on what was once used for grazing livestock.

“Despite that, they stuck the demolition notice and put a red cross mark on our walls. As per the notice, the government will bulldoze our houses and shops starting June 11, but I don’t know when the bulldozers will come and demolish our houses. We are living in fear and uncertainty,” he added.

Mohammad Shami, a 35-year-old plumber and also a resident of Khasra No. 277 in Muradi Road, shared his concerns. “I was born here. My father purchased this flat even before my birth. This is the worst news I have ever heard. The government is going to bulldoze my home. I have two children. I do not know where to take my family just before Bakra-Eid. We are being targeted because we are Muslims,” he said.

Shami also mentioned that the elders in the locality called for a meeting to address the crisis the following day. “They collected all the documents, including Aadhaar cards and land records from us, and have hired a lawyer to demand a stay on the order,” he added, outlining the community’s plan to seek legal recourse.

Bahar Alam Shamsi, a 75-year-old resident at Khasra No. 284 on Muradi Road, voiced his anxiety over the lack of clarity in the notices. “My house is not located in Khasra No. 279. Even then, they have pasted the eviction and demolition notice on my building. I can’t sleep at night properly. They’ve painted red cross on walls wherever they want, so I’m not sure if my house is safe or not,” he claimed.

Shamsi further noted that the community is in touch with the local MLA and area councillor, Nazia Danish, but hasn’t heard from them. “We cannot protest now, the time is not right. Whatever we can do is only possible through legal means,” he added, emphasising a cautious approach to the crisis.

Aiman Rizvi, a social activist based in Jamia Nagar, questioned the government’s claim, calling it baseless. “If the land under Khasra No. 277 truly belongs to the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, then how is it that the residents of this area have been registered voters of the Okhla Vidhan Sabha for the past 70 years? Why has the Delhi government provided them with official electricity connections, running water, sewer lines, and other civic amenities?” she asked.

Referring to the demolition notice, Rizvi highlighted the scale of the threat, noting that more than 3,600 flats are now at risk, despite residents having lived in the area for up to several decades. Her statements raise critical questions about the legitimacy of the government’s claims and the potential displacement of a long-established community.

Initial Relief from Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court last Friday issued an interim order restraining the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department from proceeding with the eviction or demolition of 115 properties in Okhla’s Khizar Baba Colony, Jamia Nagar. The decision follows petitions filed by affected residents challenging the department’s notices issued on May 22, which they deemed unjust and unlawful.

Justice Sachin Datta, after hearing arguments from the petitioners’ counsel, Advocate Farrukh Khan, issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, directing them to respond. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on August 4.

The petitioners, including Javed Ahmed, argued that the land on Khasra No. 277 along Muradi Road, used for residential and commercial purposes for years, is not legally owned by the department. They emphasised their long-standing, stable possession of the properties and urged the court to prevent the department from pressuring residents to vacate or demolish their homes and shops.

The petition highlighted a 1991 civil case where the State of Uttar Pradesh sought to reclaim the land and demanded compensation. That case was dismissed by a civil court in 2005 due to the state’s failure to provide valid ownership documents. The dismissal was upheld by a district court in 2011 and the High Court in 2013. With no further legal challenges from the state in over 12 years, the petitioners assert that the original ruling remains final.

While those in Khasra No. 277 breathed a temporary sigh of relief, those living in other areas, who have received eviction and demolition notices, are hoping for a similar court order in their case.

High Hopes from the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court last Thursday agreed to hear a petition next week challenging demolition notices issued for properties on Muradi Road, Batla House, Jamia Nagar. The petition, filed by 40 individuals claiming to be lawful residents and property owners, was presented before Chief Justice of India BR Gavai by Advocate Adeel Khan.

Khan argued that the notices violate prior Supreme Court directives, which mandate a 15-day response period and due process before any demolition. He alleged that the authorities arbitrarily targeted structures and issued notices without a legal basis or proper procedure.

Initially, the CJI suggested approaching the Delhi High Court, noting that the right to seek relief there was reserved in earlier orders. However, Khan pressed for an urgent Supreme Court hearing, citing procedural violations. The court permitted the matter to be listed next week, with the exact date pending.

The petitioners, supported by 38 additional residents who filed affidavits, include retired police personnel, government employees, women, children, and senior citizens. They emphasise their decades-long residency, some since the 1980s, in a stable community with homes, schools, clinics, and other infrastructure vital to the local economy.

The Residents’ Welfare Association has also raised concerns with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, South East District, about irregularities in the colony’s boundary demarcation, urging corrective action to prevent unjust demolitions.

The petitioners argue that the demolition actions, initiated by DDA and allied authorities, lack legal grounding, especially for residents with valid documentation or those in provisionally regularised colonies under the PM-UDAY framework. They seek a fair and humane approach before any coercive measures are taken.

With the demolition deadline of June 11 approaching, panic and fear have gripped the residents of Okhla. As the situation unfolds, the residents hope for a resolution that allows them to remain in the place they have called home for decades.

The writer is a freelance journalist and MA Convergent Journalism student at AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia.