Authorities raze the buildings even when a law protecting unauthorised colonies from sealing and demolition is effective till the year-end
NEW DELHI — Bulldozers roared into Khadda Colony in the Muslim-dominated Jaitpur area of the national capital on Wednesday and, in a jiffy, flattened several homes, affecting hundreds of people. The marauding bulldozers were accompanied by a strong posse of police force and senior administration officials turning familiar lanes into a cantonment of dust and dread..
The uprooting of dozens of families in the area occurred under the shadow of a law that still breathes — a statute shielding unauthorised colonies from the very blades of sealing and demolition until year’s end.
The Delhi High Court, too, had spoken: only the vacant shells of buildings might fall. But fall they did, occupied or not, leaving behind a bitter question that hangs in the smoke: to what end this haste?
Since the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Rekha Gupta government in Delhi, Muslims in several areas have constantly been passing sleepless nights, fearing bulldozer action on their colonies. Opposition parties have alleged that the government, which boasts of grand development and public welfare, is now destroying the homes of poor families.
Early Wednesday morning, bulldozers reduced several buildings in Khadda Colony to rubble, leaving hapless residents watching their life savings erode before their eyes.
The large-scale demolitions took place as a heavy police force was deployed in the area, which resembled a cantonment.
However, the administration stated that no occupied homes were demolished as the action was primarily directed at vacant homes and buildings. Despite this, an atmosphere of panic and chaos prevailed in the area.
Residents of the area feared for the worst when senior officials visited the area a week ago; a major crackdown was anticipated.
The most painful scene during the crackdown was that of families weeping as they watched their homes collapse.
A woman tearfully explained that she had saved every penny to build her home and now she didn’t know where to take her family.
Meanwhile, a man claimed he had been defrauded. He later learned that the land he had purchased was actually owned by someone else.
It is being reported that some individuals had encroached upon the land and sold it to various families. Those who purchased the land were unaware that their homes could be bulldozed in the future. The entire matter came to light when a woman named Geeta, along with her family, approached the court. They claimed that they owned five specific land plots in the colony and that the construction carried out by others was illegal.
After hearing the case, the Delhi High Court declared the construction illegal based on the documents presented to the court and ordered action. The court also stated that houses occupied by people should not be demolished for now, while action could be taken against vacant buildings.
The bulldozer action has come under scrutiny with the victims pointing out that in 2023, the central government passed a bill regarding Delhi’s illegal colonies. It was envisaged that sealing and bulldozing actions would not be allowed in unauthorised colonies in the capital for the next three years.
Responding to a discussion on the bill in the Rajya Sabha at the time, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the government was working toward regularising these colonies and granting property rights to residents. Under “The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment)” Bill, 2023, Delhi’s unauthorised colonies were protected from punitive actions until December 2026.
