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Batla House Demolitions Halted Till July 10 by Delhi High Court; 52 Muslim Families Breathe Easy

Demolition
A JCB excavator demolishes residential buildings during a clearance drive by the Delhi Development Authority in Taimoor Nagar, South Delhi, on May 5, 2025, reducing decades-old structures to rubble. Saddam Hussain / The Observer Post

The Delhi High Court has stayed the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) demolition drive in Batla House until July 10. The decision has brought a temporary pause to the anxiety faced by 52 families, mostly Muslims, who have lived in the area for decades.

The demolition threat came after the DDA issued eviction notices claiming the homes in Khasra No. 279 were “illegal.” Residents, however, say they have been living there since the early 1980s — long before the DDA laid claim.

“We were born here, we used to farm here,” said 60-year-old Hakimuddin. “Now, after 60 years, they suddenly say this is DDA’s land. They don’t even know our history.”

On June 16, Justice Tejas Kriya ordered the DDA to maintain status quo until the next hearing, giving protection to 44 out of 52 families. The court has also asked the DDA to respond within four weeks.

Lawyers representing the residents have slammed the DDA’s notices as “vague” and “invalid.” Advocate Sonika Ghosh pointed out, “They haven’t clearly said which properties are illegal. It’s just a blanket accusation.”

The case has sparked concerns about bulldozer actions across Delhi, especially in Muslim-majority areas. Recently, over 200 homes were razed in Ashok Vihar. Similar demolitions have taken place in Wazirpur, Kalkaji, Madrasi Camp, and Govindpuri.

Aftab, a 55-year-old resident of Batla House, said, “If you see honestly, most of Delhi is built on unauthorised colonies. Why target us? The government should regularise these homes, not destroy them.”

The DDA claims only a small part of Khasra No. 279 — 2 bighas and 10 biswas — is in question. But residents say the lack of clear mapping puts many families at risk. Some even hold documents dating back to the 1980s, originally in Persian.

The issue has become political, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress accusing the BJP-led government of targeting the poor. “They promised housing to slum dwellers, but are demolishing homes instead,” AAP said in a statement.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta defended the move, claiming it’s part of a broader rehabilitation plan. “We are committed to permanent housing. FIRs will be filed against those spreading lies about the demolition,” she warned.

As the community awaits the next court hearing, many are clinging to hope. “This is not just about land,” said Hakimuddin. “It’s about our dignity. We just want justice and the right to live where we’ve always belonged.”

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