Batla House demolition has reached a critical juncture, with tomorrow marking a crucial day for the residents of Khasra number 279. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear their plea challenging the demolition notices served to several homes and shops in the area.
Following eviction notices giving them just 15 days to vacate their properties, concerned residents approached the Supreme Court seeking relief. On May 29, the Supreme Court granted them an initial reprieve by agreeing to hear their petition this week.
Although the original application was filed by 38 individuals, over 40 residents and more have since joined the plea, said activist Md Tahir, who is coordinating the effort and representing the group in discussions with lawyers in Batla House demolition case. In the application, the residents have asserted that they are legitimate homeowners and long-time residents of Khasra No 279 in Batla House, said Md Tahir.
Batla House demolition: All eyes on Monday
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde will present the Batla House residents case tomorrow morning before a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma, said Advocate-on-Record Adeel Ahmad.
He told the OT: “We are demanding a stay on the demolition notices issued for houses in Khasra number 279.”
Batla House demolition: Residents living since 1982 hopeful of relief
Md Tahir told the OT that the residents are hopeful of receiving relief, as they have been bonafide residents of the colony since 1982. “My father bought a plot of land in 1982, and we’ve been living here ever since — paying bills and taxes,” said 58-year-old Md Tahir, who knows the area like the back of his hand.
Many residents said they have lived in the area since childhood — among them is 65-year-old Mohammad Usman, who shared that his father bought their home decades ago. Now, the eviction notices have cast a shadow over their future. But all is not lost, as residents are pinning their hopes on the Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Monday.
Armed with official documents — a treasure trove for residents seeking to prove their long-standing presence in the area — Md Tahir explained that in 2007, the locality received a provisional certificate after a survey conducted by a registered Residents Welfare Association. He spread out several documents, including old maps and other papers, across the small table in his office on Muradi Road. The flow of people coming in for advice and to understand the issue seemed endless. Papers submitted by residents were piling up in the corner of his small office on one table.
He said: “The marked land has been part of Batla House since 1982, and in the official gazette, it was listed as plot number 1424. How it later became Khasra number 279 is beyond our understanding. The survey method is flawed.”
Shift from rural to urban development
“Initially, residents lived in single-storey houses, and the area was mostly open,” said another resident. “But after 2000, the flat culture began to catch on. As new apartments were built, people from across India started moving in, turning the area into a vibrant melting pot,” he said.
Speaking about the transformation of the area, Kaifi Ali said Muradi Road in Khasra number 279 — now a bustling lane in Batla House lined with swanky showrooms and high-rise buildings — has undergone a remarkable change from a rural settlement to a fully urbanised neighbourhood with residents living peacefully.
Since eviction notices were posted on their homes by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on May 26, residents have been living in constant fear that bulldozers could arrive any moment to raze their houses — wiping out a lifetime of hard-earned stability.
The Batla House demolition eviction date has been set for a few days after Eid-Ul-Adha in early June, adding to the anxiety for families preparing to celebrate the festival. The notices came as a shock to many. Residents said they were put up on an otherwise busy yet narrow lane of Batla House, catching people off guard.
Nazim, 65, said: “When these buildings were being constructed, people were plotting land and building homes — DDA said nothing. Where were they then, when our land was going?”
Mohd Idris, 53, said: “We have electricity bills, water connections, even my driving licence is registered at this address. Why didn’t anyone stop us back then?” Social activist Tamanna Khan said: “Why demolish our homes? Bulldoze us too. Where should they go?” She accused the government of targeting poor communities and noted the timing of the eviction order. Three-day Eid-ul-Adha is on June 6.
The May 26 notice was put in both English and Hindi and said: “Whereas, the land of Khasra number 279 village Okhla is acquired DDA/Government land…and a part of the subject land has unauthorised encroachment.
“And whereas, the Supreme Court…has directed the Delhi Development Authority and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi to take action of demolition of illegal/unauthorised structures in said Khasra number 279 village Okhla in relation to the area lying outside PM-UDAY colony boundary. And whereas the SC has directed that such action shall be taken after giving 15 days notice to the occupants of such illegal/unauthorised structures.
“And whereas, this building/structure has been found to be an illegal/unauthorised structure falling in khasra number 279 village Okhla outside PMA-UDAY colony boundary. Now therefore in pursuance with the directions of the SC to take action of demolition in accordance with law in respect of illegal/unauthorised structures and in order to recover precious DDA/Government land, the occupants of this building/structure are hereby directed to vacate the premise within 15 days of issuance of this notice. The demolition programmer shall be carried out from 11-06-2025 without any further notice. The occupants of this building/structure have been duly warned.”
Long night filled with anticipation
The Supreme Court’s interim relief on May 29 brought smiles back to the faces of many residents, who knew that without legal intervention, the situation would spiral beyond their control. Realising the seriousness of the matter in Batla House demolition case, even those who had earlier adopted an ostrich-like attitude — believing “nothing will happen”— began submitting their documents to Md Tahir to forward to the legal team.
Now, all eyes are on Monday morning, when their petition is scheduled to be heard in court. For the affected residents, it will be a long night filled with anticipation, as the verdict carries immense significance for their future and Okhla.
