In the Batla House demolition case, Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan released a video message on Friday. He said the courts have granted a stay on 45 out of the 52 properties that were marked for demolition by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) following the Supreme Court order. Residents were given 15 days time to vacate the alleged encroached properties with the deadline expiring on June 11. Since then residents have approached the Delhi High Court and lower court for interim relief in Batla House demolition.
“Today, we came to court regarding the demolition notices that DDA had put up on Batla House road. There were a total of 52 properties that they wanted to demolish. Out of those, 45 have received a stay order. Today, around 8 cases were heard here, and out of those 8, one has been granted a stay. For the rest, the judge has said they will be heard on Monday,” said the MLA on Batla House demolition.
“We said the DDA might proceed with the demolition tomorrow. The judge said if DDA carries out the demolition tomorrow, then you can come to the court tomorrow. But the proper hearing date is Monday.
“Now for some details, like on Muradi Road, E8 is there, less than 5 per cent is to be demolished. E9 is below 5 per cent. G18, around 10 per cent is to be demolished. …I think the DDA will not take a step like this, where 45 out of 52 have already received a stay. And the remaining will also likely get it. Some of the demolition is just two square yards in places…
“We should wait until Monday, as the judge has said. But if DDA carries out demolition tomorrow, then we were told to come back to court. We are deeply thankful to the High Court and to the local court for the relief they have given us in this matter. We are grateful to them, to all our lawyers,” said Amanatullah on Batla House demolition.
The residents have welcomed the recent development and remain hopeful that, since they possess all the necessary legal documents, justice will be served. Firoz Muzaffar, whose house also received an eviction notice, expressed surprise, stating that his property does not fall under Khasra 279. Several other residents have also approached the courts, claiming that the “eviction notices were issued by mistake”.
Despite the temporary relief, rumours continue to circulate in the locality that demolition may still happen at some point. Across Jamia Nagar, residents are anxious and closely following the developments, fearing that what’s happening in Batla House could trigger a domino effect throughout the area.
The arrival of police barricades in the locality on Tuesday alarmed residents, as rumours of an imminent demolition the next day spread like wildfire. In fear, many affected residents vacated their homes, said a resident aware of the development in the locality.
Late at night, Amanatullah Khan released a message on social media updating the status of the properties that had received interim relief. “…the DDA had issued notices to 52 properties, and 32 have received a stay. The remaining 20 cases are scheduled for hearing tomorrow (Wednesday), and there is hope that all will be granted a stay,” he wrote in Hindi on X.
His message brought a sense of relief to residents, and many who had fled in fear began returning to their homes, hopeful that interim protection was now in place.
