Khizar Baba Colony Khasra 277 residents heaved a sigh of relief today after Delhi High Court has stayed demolition notice of Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department at Batla House.
Advocate Dr Farrukh Khan, petitioner counsel on Delhi High Court said: “115 residence of Muradi road Jamia Nagar moves Delhi High Court seeking direction to restraining Irrigation Department to demolish their respective properties situated in Khasra No 277, situated as Muradi Road, Khizar Baba Colony, Jamia Nagar, Okhla.
Next hearing is in August.
Khizar Baba Colony: Next hearing in August
“Today the matter came up in the Delhi High Court. We presented several points before the court. We showed documents proving that some people have been living there for over 30 years. We specifically drew the attention of the Delhi High Court to the context of this land, this particular plot (khasra), where the UP Irrigation Department has already lost its case. They had filed a civil case claiming encroachment and sought vacation, but they lost. Then the Irrigation Department filed a Regular First Appeal — this was about 20 years ago — and lost again. After that, they filed a second appeal in the Delhi High Court, which was also dismissed. We brought all this to the court’s attention. The court listened and understood our arguments, and it issued a notice. The next date given by the court is probably August 4 (exact order is not out yet), but based on the oral order passed in open court, the court has also granted a stay. So for now, no demolition or such action will be taken. The UP Irrigation Department has been given time to file their reply. We are quite hopeful that this matter will progress positively… We are expecting a favourable outcome. For now, the High Court has stayed the immediate threat of demolition,” said Counsel Farrukh Khan.
Khizar Baba Colony residents heave a sigh of relief
As word spread in the locality about the temporary stay order, residents were seen celebrating the moment. Many came out of their houses and expressed their happiness. Celebrations also broke out on social media, where netizens started sharing the information. Since the notice had been posted on the houses and shops of residents in Khasra 277, they had been having sleepless nights, staring into the abyss.
“This is to inform the general public that in Village Okhla, at Khasra Number 277 (Khizar Baba Colony, Muradi Road), Delhi,) land belonging to the Irrigation Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh has been illegally encroached upon, and permanent structures such as houses and shops have been constructed. These illegally constructed houses and shops must be removed within 15 days. Otherwise, in the event of any damage, you will be solely responsible,” reads the notice pasted on several houses some seven days ago.
The notice had a domino effect in the locality, with residents starting to ask: “What next?” Many feared that, gradually, civic agencies would lay claim to more land and bulldozers would come to Okhla.
Devastated by the eviction notice, residents remained hopeful that the court would grant them relief. Many were seen showing their documents — such as electricity bills, property tax slips, and other government papers — to journalists to prove they were genuine residents of the locality.
Before the court’s stay order, Mahmood Ahmed said people had been living in the area for generations, and then, one morning, they were suddenly told to vacate the land on the grounds that it was encroached.
Days after the eviction notices were pasted on shops and homes, Gulshana Khan said: “Our kids go to nearby schools. We can’t even imagine what it would be like for them if a demolition actually happens.”
Another resident Mohammad Usman, who runs a confectionery shop in the area, said: “We have electricity bills, property tax slips — everything. And yet we’re being harassed. This is usually the time when all of Batla House is bustling with Eid preparations. But this time, I fear it’s going to be a tragic Eid for all of us.”
Now, it is understood that residents will be celebrating Eid, which falls on June 6, without the fear of demolition hanging over their heads.
Two developments regarding the bulldozer action in Batla House have brought much-needed relief for residents of the entire area. Besides Khasra Number 277, the neighbouring Khasra 279 — which had also received notices ordering residents to vacate houses and shops within 15 days — has now reached the Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled for next week.
