KKN Gurugram Desk | The city of Delhi is gearing up for another round of demolition in the Batla House neighborhood, this time in the Muradi Road area, as local authorities have issued notices and police barricades are being set up. This latest move forms part of the larger DDA bulldozer campaign targeting unauthorized encroachments in and around Southeast Delhi.

 Police Deploy Barricades and Issue Notices

On Wednesday, the Delhi Police initiated security measures in Muradi Road, an arterial lane in the Batla House area of Southeast Delhi, ahead of anticipated clearance actions by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Multiple barricades have been erected along the stretch, and notices have been affixed to suspected encroached properties.

A senior Delhi Police officer confirmed:

“Barricades are in place around Muradi Road and local stations have increased deployment. We’re prepared to maintain public order in case tensions escalate.”

These preparations follow a pattern across Delhi— similar demolition drives are underway in Ashok Vihar, Wazirpur, Kalkaji, and other locations as part of a city-wide reclaiming of public land .

 Why Muradi Road Is in Focus

Muradi Road falls within Khasra No. 279—the 0.702-hectare tract ordered cleared by the Supreme Court on May 7, 2025. The High Court previously upheld this direction, allowing limited stays while individual petitions were heard .

Up to 100-plus households received 15-day notices on June 11, but only a small group managed to secure interim stay orders. Most notice recipients are still awaiting court verdicts .

High Court Intervention and Stays

When the Muradi Road demolition became public, affected families quickly approached the Delhi High Court. In mid-June, the court:

• Granted interim stays for six to eleven residents

• Ordered a status quo until the next hearing—scheduled for July 10, 2025

• Directed the DDA to submit a detailed demarcation and survey report

Pleading residents included individuals from Khasra 279 and 277, some of whom have entered data under the PM-UDAY regularization scheme .

One lawyer, Anurag Saksena, highlighted that the DDA failed to specify which properties were unauthorized, issuing generic notices to every building in the area .

 Legal Entanglements Continue

The demolition drive follows on the heels of petitions filed by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, later withdrawn, and requests lodged by residents such as Heena Parveen, Jinat Kausar, Rukhsana Begum, and Nihal Fatima seeking protections .

Individual petitions have succeeded in acquiring limited stay orders. A careful and property-specific approach is being followed by the courts, rejecting blanket protection while ensuring due process for homeowners carrying valid ownership proof.

 Political and Social Context

Batla House lies in the historically Muslim-dominated Okhla-Jamia Nagar corridor. Many residents trace their roots back to the 1980s, possessing electricity bills, voter ID, and municipal tax receipts. Demolitions without clear legal grounds could lead to intense social backlash .

A local activist remarked:

“People are heartbroken. They’ve lived here for decades, paid taxes, but kept entirely in the dark until notices were slapped recently.”

The demolition drive has ignited concerns about forced displacement, especially ahead of religious festivals and amidst poor monsoon conditions .

DDA and Judiciary’s Stance

The DDA has asserted its compliance with the Supreme Court directive and promised to deliver survey and demarcation documentation within weeks. Meanwhile, the High Court has demanded those documents before lifting the temporary stay.

Officials emphasize their duty to remove illegal encroachments, while courts insist on balancing enforcement with residents’ rights and following due process.

The Batla House demolition saga reflects the complex interplay between urban governance, judicial oversight, and residents’ rights. Even as police barricades and notices signal the state’s intent to enforce the Supreme Court’s demolition order, the Delhi High Court continues to protect select households. This tug-of-war foregrounds broader questions: How should cities remove illegal structures without harming vulnerable communities? Is the DDA’s process transparent enough?

The Muradi Road episode is a microcosm of Delhi’s larger struggle with informal settlements, planning norms, and the need for sensitive, equitable urban policies. With the next court hearing scheduled in July, both enforcement officials and affected families remain on edge—watching closely as legitimacy, legality, and justice are contested in Delhi’s labyrinthine streets.