Delhi Development Authority Demolishes Slum in Batla House, 800 Families Left Homeless

Reported by

Aditi Patil

Legal Data by

Edited by

Updated by

Published on

May 17, 2021

May 17, 2021

Updated on

May 17, 2021

Location of Conflict

Batla house

South Delhi

Reason or Cause of Conflict

Other Kind of Land Use

Demolition drive

(

)

People Affected by Conflict

Households Affected by Conflict

Land Area Affected (in Hectares)

1

ha

Starting Year

2020

State

Delhi

Sector

Land Use
Summary
Fact Sheet
Legal Data
Additional
Information
Resources
Images
Videos

At least 800 families in Delhi's Muslimdominated Batla House were rendered homeless after a slum clearance drive by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The residents of Batla House are mostly domestic and daily wage workers and are among the worst hit since the COVID19 pandemic began. The demolition drive started on September 22, 2020. The residents claim that no notice was served and that no alternate site was designated for their rehabilitation. Officials also demolished a toilet block in the area. The sudden eviction left several people injured in the debris of demolition. Some also lost their livelihood. Mohammad Javed, 32, a rickshaw puller and father of five, told the media: My rickshaw was broken, and our household items are gone. We were suffering during the lockdown but at least we had a roof over our heads. There is no food, no clothes, no electricity or water now. At night we deal with the mosquitoes and during the day, we suffer under the sun. The DDA demolished the slums citing the National Green Tribunals law against construction on river embankments. It claimed that the land falls in the Yamuna floodplains and is owned by the DDA, hence the residents of Batla House are encroachers. While DDA officials allege that the slum has come up during the pandemic, the residents claim to have been living in the area for many years. The Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) petitioned the Delhi high court on behalf of two residents, and the court heard the matter on September 25, 2020. HRLN successfully persuaded the court to order a fiveday stay on the demolition in order to approach the division bench for clarification and rehabilitation of the slum dwellers. On January 19, 2021, over 200 slum dwellers from the Dhobighat area (one part of the demolished area) marched to the office of Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan demanding alternate land close to the demolition site. They were able to submit their memorandum of demands but no action has been taken yet.

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for rehabilitation

Complaint against procedural violations

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Urban

Type of Land

Private

Type of Common Land

Total investment involved (in Crores):

₹

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict

Central/State Government Policy, Constitutional Law

Legislations/Policies Involved

Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015
Provision 2(a)(1): [Bastis that have come up before 2015 are not to be demolished without providing alternative housing]
National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2011
Section 3(a): [Provision for alternative resettlement and housing for slum dwellers in accordance with the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board Act]
Delhi Development Authority (Removal of Objectionable Developments) Rules, 1975
Section 3: [Issue of show-cause notice if development in an area has been conducted in what is a) not a development area or b) in contravention to the master plan]
Constitution of India, 1950
Article 21: [Right to life, including the right to housing]
Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971
Section 4: [Issue of of notice to show cause against the order of eviction]; Section 5: [Evicting occupants from unauthorised occupancy]

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Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute

What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?

What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?

Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:

No items found.

Legal Status:

In Court

Status of Case In Court

Disposed

Whether any adjudicatory body was approached

Name of the adjudicatory body

Name(s) of the Court(s)

High Court of Delhi

Case Number

Shakil Ahmed v. Delhi Development Authority & Ors, WP(C) No. 7032 of 2020

Main Reasoning/Decision of court

Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:

Displacement

Physical attack

Arrest/detention/imprisonment

Whether criminal law was used against protestors:

Reported Details of the Violation:

Police did not allow the residents to remove or take their belongings during the demolition drive. Few people who protested against this were beaten up and detained.

Date of Violation

September 24, 2020

Location of Violation

Batla House

Nature of Protest

Protests/marches

Complaints/petitions/letters/memorandums to officials

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Police, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, Government of NCT of Delhi, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Human Rights Law Network

Resources Related to Conflict

  • News Articles Related to the Conflict:
  • Documents Related to the Conflict:
  • Links Related to the Conflict:

Image Credit:  

Image Credit:  

Documented By

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Reviewed By

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Updated By

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Edited By

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