Supreme Court Delays Decision on Okhla Village Demolition to July

New Delhi, Jun 2 (PTI) - The Supreme Court has scheduled a July hearing for a plea challenging the intended demolition of allegedly unauthorized structures located in Okhla village, New Delhi.

The issue was addressed by a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, representing the petitioner, brought attention to a May 7 order from the apex court that directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to demolish unauthorized constructions in Okhla village according to the legal process.

The bench, acknowledging the existing court orders, posed a question: "We are aware of our orders. We don't want to say anything. We leave it to you. Should we pass an appropriate order or you want it in July?" In response, Hegde requested that no actions be taken in the meantime, stating, "That is the real problem."

The bench assured, "It is our order. We know what it is. We know what you are saying," and asked Hegde to consider the matter further before resuming the hearing.

When the hearing reconvened, the senior advocate suggested the matter be deferred to July. He pointed to a section in the Supreme Court's May 7 order which states, "We also make it clear that those occupants who are aggrieved by notices of demolition are free to adopt appropriate proceedings in accordance with law."

Subsequently, the bench agreed to list the matter for a July hearing. In its May 7 directive, the top court instructed the DDA to implement demolition actions lawfully concerning the unauthorized structures over an area measuring 2 bigha 10 biswa.

The court had also mandated the DDA to submit a compliance affidavit within a three-month period and emphasized that a 15-day notice should be served to affected parties prior to any demolition activity.

The Supreme Court was initially examining a contempt plea regarding breaches of its 2018 directives aimed at curbing rampant encroachments and illegal constructions on public lands in Delhi. Recently, officials issued demolition notices to numerous homes in Jamia Nagar, Okhla, claiming encroachments on land belonging to the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department.

The notices, dated May 22 and placed on the impugned properties, declared, "Everyone is informed that encroachment has been done in Okhla, Khizerbaba Colony, belonging to the Irrigation Control Department of Uttar Pradesh. The houses and shops on this land are illegal and should be removed in the next 15 days."

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