Supreme Court refuses to stay Okhla's Jamia Nagar demolitions
The petition will now be heard in July after the partial working days of court are over.;
The Supreme Court yesterday refused pleas of some residents of Jamia Nagar to stop the impending demolition drive against encroachments and illegal constructions.
Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde submitted before a partial working day bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and SC Sharma seeking for a stay on the impending demolition drive.
The said demolitions noticed is being carried out of the unauthorised colony which falls under Pm-UDAY Scheme under NCT Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights to Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Regulations, 2019.
Last week, Supreme Court had agreed to hear a plea filed by Jamia Nagar residents challenging the demolition notice issued to them over allegedly illegal properties encroaching on land belonging to the Uttar Pradesh government.
A Chief Justice of India led bench told the petitioners before it to approach the concerned high court. Later court agreed to hear the pleas this week.
On May 8, the Supreme Court had asked Delhi Development Authority to carry out demolition of unauthorised structures in Okhla village in accordance with the law. The DDA was asked to send a notice 15 days prior to carrying out of demolitions.
The petitioner challenged the assertion that these properties are encroachments on public land.
Notably, in November 2024 Supreme Court had laid down strict guidelines on bulldozer action. Justice BR Gavai had then said, "Such acts of the executive have to be dealt with heavy hand of the law." Top Court further held that an authority cannot be permitted to take away the shelter of an entire family only on the ground that one person residing in the house is accused of a crime.