AAP MLA Amantullah Khan Moves Delhi High Court Against Batla House Demolitions; Hearing On June 11

The Delhi High Court yesterday considered a PIL filed by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan against the demolition action proposed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) at Khasra No. 279 in city's Batla House area.A division bench comprising Justice Girish Kathpalia and Justice Tejas Karia listed the matter for hearing on June 11 but did not pass any interim order as the case was received in the second supplementary list and was taken up at 06:10 PM.The Court noted that there are two issues in the matter. First, that Justice Karia had granted interim protection to some of the persons, placed similar to the persons, whose cause is taken up by Khan and thus, it had to be examined as to whether the division Bench can deal with the petition. Secondly, DDA counsel said that the Supreme Court has already declined protection to the allegedly affected parties. It was submitted that Khan's plea being a Public Interest Litigation, no stay order could be passed because the same would require examination of individual cases.“For submissions on these two issues, list on 11.06.2025,” the Court said. In his plea, Khan alleged that vague and generic notices were issued by DDA without identifying individual structures or without identifying individual structures or residents, thereby depriving citizens of their constitutional right to a fair residents. He said that though the demolition was being carried out pursuant to an order of the Supreme Court, but the said order explicitly mandates adherence to the "due process of law" including a 15-day notice period and compliance with procedural safeguards, which the DDA failed to do. He also submitted that the partial application of the PM- UDAY Scheme within the same Khasra number and the absence of policy for buildings bisected by the demarcation line has resulted in discriminatory treatment. The action is also in violation of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011, he said. Khan has sought a direction on DDA to issue fresh and proper demolition notices only to the residents of Khasra No. 279, in accordance with the law and the principles of natural justice.Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. Salman Khurshid, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Fahad Khan, Mr. Shikhar Sharma, Md. Imran Ahmad, Mr. R.Jude Rohit, Mr. Kartik Venu, Ms. Deepika Singh, Ms. Swati Khanna & Ms. Raksha, AdvocatesCounsel for Respondents: Ms. Shobhana Takiar, SC for DDA & Mr. Kuljeet Singh, Advocate.Title: AMANATULLAH KHAN v. DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY & ANRClick here to read order

AAP MLA Amantullah Khan Moves Delhi High Court Against Batla House Demolitions; Hearing On June 11

Nupur Thapliyal

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