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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court directed status quo to be maintained on the Delhi Development Authority's proposal to demolish jhuggi clusters in the Gyaspur area of Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi.

A vacation bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna granted the interim relief in a plea moved by the residents.

The court has ordered status quo till July 11, which is the next date of hearing. 

As per the plea, the T-Huts settlement in the area comprises 32 jhuggis/households. It is alleged that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has no alternative plan for their rehabilitation and they are living there for over two decades.

Residents had further apprehended demolition as bull dozers were parked in the area and the authorities had asked them to vacate.

Accordingly, the resident-petitioners have also sought a survey to be conducted as per the Delhi Slum and JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015 and to direct the Petitioners to rehabilitate them prior to eviction/demolition of their jhuggis. 

Petitioners were represented by Advocates Vrinda Bhandari, Shiyaz Razaq, Kaoliangpou Kamei, Jepi Y Chisho and Paul Kumar Kalai. 

DDA also recently carried our demolition drives in various areas of Delhi, resulting in many petitions against such drives being filed in court.

CPI(M) has moved the Supreme Court against Demolition drives in different areas of South Delhi. Similarly, DDA has also razed houses in Qutub area and other areas of East Delhi.

Case Title: Manoj Gupta & Ors. vs. DDA & Ors.