The government agency’s move has raised serious questions about its timing, motives, and fairness
NEW DELHI – The mood in South Delhi’s Jamia Nagar, a Muslim-majority area, turned tense just days before Eid-Al-Azha. Residents of Muradi Road, Batla House, were shocked when officials from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) pasted sudden demolition notices on several buildings. The notices cited “encroachment on government land”, targeting properties built under Khasra Number 279.
Four affected families have now secured a temporary stay from the Delhi High Court. They say the notice is unjust and wrongly issued, claiming their land doesn’t even fall under the area DDA has mentioned. The entire community is watching the developments closely, especially a larger Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan, which is scheduled to be heard later on Wednesday (June 11).
As of now, the DDA’s move has raised serious questions about its timing, motives, and fairness.
The demolition notices were served just before Eid, one of the most important festivals for Muslims. Instead of preparing for celebrations, families were forced to run around courts and lawyers’ offices.
“I didn’t even cook a proper Eid meal this year,” said Ishrat Jahan, one of the residents who got a stay order. “I was busy gathering papers, proving that the land we live on is legal. We have lived here for years. Why didn’t the DDA come before? Why now?”
Ishrat, along with three other petitioners, told the court that their homes are not built on the land mentioned in the DDA’s notice. They added that their property is registered and even linked to PM Ujjwala Yojana, the central government’s own scheme for providing LPG connections to the poor.
“We are not illegal,” she added firmly. “We are just Muslims, that’s the real reason they target us.”
After a quick but intense legal effort, the Delhi High Court stepped in. It accepted the argument that the homes might not fall under the khasra land mentioned in the DDA’s notice. The court ordered the DDA not to carry out any demolition of the four houses until the next hearing.
Lawyer Salman Khurshid, a well-known Congress leader, represented MLA Amanatullah Khan’s petition. “This is not just about four houses,” Khurshid said outside the courtroom. “This is about the dignity of an entire community that has been harassed just before their holy festival.”
The PIL filed by Amanatullah Khan argues that the DDA’s actions are unfair, unplanned, and show a clear bias. While the court did not grant immediate relief in Khan’s case, it agreed to hear the matter on June 11, keeping alive the hopes of hundreds of families in the area.
The demolition notices mentioned June 15 as the last date for removing the so-called “encroachments.” After that, the DDA may return with bulldozers.
Many people fear this could lead to sudden violence, police force, and the destruction of entire neighbourhoods. “We are Muslims in India. That’s all the reason they need,” said Mohammad Sadiq, another resident. “They want to scare us, remove us, break us, but we will fight.”
Community leaders say that Muradi Road is not just a street — it’s a home to thousands. Many families here have invested their entire savings into buying or building homes. For them, the DDA’s notice is more than a paper threat. It’s a potential end to their dreams.
Amanatullah Khan has been at the centre of the resistance. He has been holding meetings with residents, visiting homes, and filing petitions to protect them. He has openly accused the DDA of targeting Muslims and claimed that this was part of a larger agenda to disturb peace in Muslim areas.
“Why are only Muslim colonies getting these notices?” Khan asked during a public gathering. “Why before Eid? Why without any prior survey or verification? This is not action; this is oppression.”
He also stated that the DDA has not provided any evidence to support the claim that these homes are illegal. “People have electricity bills, water bills, and voter IDs. These are not illegal houses. This is their only shelter.”
So far, the DDA has kept quiet in public. In court, the lawyer opposed giving any relief and claimed that the notices were legal and part of regular anti-encroachment work. But locals are not convinced.
Interestingly, some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have also shown concern. They said they don’t want people to be thrown on the streets.
A BJP spokesperson, who did not want to be named, said: “We are not against the people. If there is any mistake, the DDA should correct it. People must get a chance to show their papers.”
However, many locals believe this is just a political act. “The BJP wants to show both faces,” said activist Shaikh Nasiruddin. “On one side, they demolish. On the other hand, they offer sympathy. They can’t fool us.”
This is not the first time that a Muslim-majority area has faced such action. In the past, areas like Shaheen Bagh and Okhla have seen police raids, demolition threats, and even the use of bulldozers. Human rights groups have raised serious concerns over what they call a “pattern” of action against Muslim settlements.
“There is a plan behind this,” said advocate Shahana Rizvi, who often handles cases in minority areas. “First, label the area illegal. Then bring in bulldozers. If people protest, call them anti-national. This is how Muslims are being treated in the national capital.”
She added that while many areas in Delhi have unplanned colonies, action is mostly taken where Muslims live. “This is not justice. This is punishment.”
Local residents are now demanding a full and fair survey. They want DDA to visit each house, check the papers, and listen to the people before taking any action.
“Give us notice, but also give us time,” said Rehana Bano, a 60-year-old widow. “Don’t send bulldozers without even hearing our side.”
She said her husband had spent all his life savings to build the house. “He died here. This is our only place. If they break it, where will I go?”
All eyes are now on June 11, when the Delhi High Court will hear Amanatullah Khan’s petition. Hundreds of residents are expected to gather outside the court in a silent protest.
“We have faith in the law,” said Khan. “If we cannot get justice here, where will the poor go? We are not asking for favour. We are asking for our rights.”
Many residents say that even if the DDA comes after June 15, they will not leave. “Let them arrest us,” said college student Suhail Ahmed. “We will not move. We are not criminals. We are citizens.”
