Gurugram:
To provide relief to 2,100 DLF residents, the Supreme Court on Friday temporarily stayed on the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which ordered the demolition of unauthorized constructions in the first housing units and sealing of commercial activities in DLF Phase 1 to 5.
The apex court initially provided relief to the residents for 4 weeks, who transferred it for relief.
This relief took place on one day when the Town and Country Planning (DTCP) Department (DTCP) was designed to launch its campaign on illegal structures to execute the directives of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
“We came to know that the matter was taken by the Supreme Court today. We went to the spot to execute the order of the High Court, but later we came to know that the top court had stayed it. However, we are yet to go through the Supreme Court order,” TCP, Enforcement, said Amit Madholia.
On the other hand, the residents welcomed SC’s decision.
“We welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court. We are victims in this case. It is not a government land. We have occupied our land and all the necessary taxes have been paid to the concerned departments. We submitted our petition before the court, which was considered,” Sashish Yadav, a resident, said.
The High Court had ordered sealing action on the plea of Sameer Puri, president of DLF Phase 3 resident Welfare Association (RWA).
On the Supreme Court’s decision, Puri said: “The High Court had given a decision in our favor. Now we have to stay in the Supreme Court. We will also take this issue forward in the Supreme Court. We will present our side.”
HC issued its directive on 13 February, after which an enforcement team survey identified over 4,200 properties, violating the building rules.
The court orders created nervousness, especially in the Economically Weak Block (EWS) blocks of DLF3’s U-block and among builders and residents of these areas. While 4,200 properties were identified by DTCP for earlier violations, 2,100 units faced a demolition and sealing drive, which was scheduled to begin on 4 April on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Earlier, property owners were served show-causal notices and were given seven days to react. Those who failed to provide a satisfactory explanation were determined to face strict action in an operation organized under the Haryana Urban Development Act and Haryana Building Code Rules.
The department’s enforcement team finalized the action plan to target illegal constructions and unauthorized commercial activities. To ensure smooth execution, four teams were formed, and Duty Magistrates were appointed for supervision. Additionally, a heavy police force was also deployed to prevent any unpleasant incidents during the operation.
For many years, commercial activities flourish in these 60-class-yard houses, in which many household owners rent blank spaces for shops, pay guests (PG) housing, and pay guest houses. Violations in U-block are the most serious, some buildings have been illegally extended to six or eight floors, which is beyond the permissible range. However, after HC instructions and upcoming cracks, these businesses have been discontinued.
Officials also warned that any tampering with the sealing process would lead to legal action including FIR.
The DLF City Resident Welfare Association (RWA) had filed a public interest litigation in one to five phases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2021 about illegal construction in various areas of DLF stages. The petitioners had said that illegal constructions have reduced the quality of life in the city and urged the court to order the demolition of such buildings. The petitioners also requested the court to cancel the illegally issued business certificates.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)
