Supreme Court to Hear Petition Against Property Demolition Notices in Batla House Next Week
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition challenging the demolition notices issued for properties in Batla House next week. The petitioners, including Sultana Shaheen and others, argue that they were not given a fair chance to present their case before the eviction notices were issued. They claim that the demolition actions violate their fundamental rights and principles of natural justice. This case raises significant concerns about due process and the rights of residents in the area, as they face potential eviction based on recent government directives. Stay tuned for updates on this important legal matter.
May 29, 2025, 17:50 IST
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Property Demolition Case
On Thursday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a petition challenging the demolition notices issued for properties in Batla House, Jamia Nagar, next week. The vacation bench, comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, consented to schedule the case for next week after a lawyer highlighted the need for an expedited hearing. The petition was filed by property owners, including Sultana Shaheen and 39 others, who claimed that a 15-day eviction/demolition notice was affixed to their properties on May 27. The petition, submitted through lawyer Adil Ahmed, stated that this action followed a Supreme Court order from May 7, which directed the Delhi government and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to demolish illegal properties in the Batla House area.
Concerns Over Due Process
They argued that the action was unjust as they were never made parties to the case and were not given a chance to present their side. The petitioners, who are the actual residents and property owners of khasra numbers 271 and 279 in Batla House, received the eviction/demolition notice on May 27, 2025, as per the court's order from May 7, 2025, despite not being included as parties in the writ petition or given an opportunity for a hearing.
Violation of Fundamental Rights
The petition further contended that any extensive demolition campaign initiated without providing affected residents a fair and meaningful opportunity for a hearing would constitute a severe violation of the principles of natural justice and directly infringe upon the fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 14, 19(1)(e), and 21 of the Constitution. It also stated that the group of affected residents, whose homes are located in this area, is now facing demands for demolition based on the alleged grounds of being outside the PM-Uday scheme.