With bulldozer operations suspended until 10 July, the court recognises the long-standing residence of Batla House families and questions the legality of the DDA’s notices
NEW DELHI — In a significant relief to the residents of Batla House, the Delhi High Court has stayed the demolition operations ordered by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), halting bulldozer activity in the area until July 10. This decision brings a much-needed pause to the ongoing threat hanging over predominantly Muslim families who have lived here for generations.
The DDA had issued eviction notices to 52 homeowners in Khasra No. 279, labelling their houses as illegal. However, the affected families, many of them Muslim, who have been owning their homes since the early 1980s, challenged the notices in court. So far, 44 owners have received legal protection, while seven cases remain under consideration.
Justice Tejas Kriya’s order on 16 June requires the status quo to be maintained, preventing any demolition until further court hearings. The court has also issued notices to the DDA, asking for a response within four weeks.
Lawyers representing the petitioners, including Sonika Ghosh, Anurag Saxena, and Gurmukh Das Kohli, have criticised the DDA’s notice, calling it “invalid” and pointing out that not all properties in the disputed plot are illegal. “There is no clear explanation in the DDA’s notice about which properties are illegal,” said one of the petitioners’ advocates.
The affected residents stress their deep roots in the area. Hakimuddin, a 60-year-old resident of Batla House, said, “We were born here, we used to farm here. Now, after 60 years, the DDA is saying this is its land, but it does not know anything. Apart from Khasra No. 279, several nearby homes have also been served notices.”
Another resident, 55-year-old Aftab, expressed his worry over the situation, saying, “If you look at it, almost all of Delhi’s settlements are illegal. A person builds a house only once in a lifetime. This issue has come up now, and it has caused a lot of fear. The government should regularise these illegal colonies, not destroy them. We have full hope the court will protect our rights.”
This case highlights a larger problem facing Muslim communities across Delhi, where demolitions are increasingly threatening to uproot families from long-established homes.
Bulldozer operations have been active in many slum areas in the city recently. In Ashok Vihar alone, 200 slums were razed. Similar actions have been taken in Wazirpur, Madrasi Camp, Kalkaji, and Govindpuri, all areas with significant Muslim populations.
The demolitions have sparked criticism of the BJP-led Delhi government from opposition parties. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress accuse the government of hypocrisy, pointing out that promises were made to provide housing to slum dwellers, but their homes are being destroyed. The AAP said, “The BJP government promised housing, but before that, they are demolishing the very homes people live in.”
Responding to the criticism, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused the opposition of spreading falsehoods about the bulldozer drives. She stated that the government is committed to providing permanent houses under a rehabilitation scheme. In a recent meeting with officials, she directed that FIRs be registered against those spreading rumours about the demolition efforts.
The legal battle over Batla House is emblematic of the tension many Muslim communities face in Delhi today, where their rights to land and housing are under threat. The petitioners argue that their homes have been passed down for decades, some even with documents dating back to the 1980s, originally in Persian and later translated.
The DDA claims only 2 bighas and 10 baswas of land in the 34 bigha Khasra No. 279 are under dispute, but residents say the lack of clarity leaves many at risk. The high court will hear the remaining petitions on 10 July, giving residents hope for a fair resolution.
As Hakimuddin summed up, “We ask only for justice, for the right to live in the homes where our families have lived for generations. This is not just about land — it’s about our identity and dignity.”
