The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ordered status quo on Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) action of demolishing various properties near Mehrauli Archaeological Park area, till February 16.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the order while hearing a bunch of pleas against the demolition drive being carried out by DDA near Mehrauli Archaeological Park in Ladha Sarai village.

While passing the order of status quo, the court also directed DDA to file a demarcation report in respect of the properties by tomorrow.

Previously, the court had halted the demolition of a slum cluster housing 400 jhuggis till today.

Delhi Admin Halts Demolition Drive

Meanwhile, a press release issued by office of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena this evening said that DDA has been directed to stall the demolition drive till further instructions.

“The decision came after a delegation of residents of these villages met the LG and sought relief from the demolition drive while citing the anomalies in the demarcation of land in these areas, that was carried out by the AAP Government in 2021. The LG directed the Vice Chairman, DDA and the local administration to immediately stop the demolition drive and assured the residents that their grievances would be looked into and the anomalies, as pointed out by them, would be examined,” it said.

In a similar development, Justice Mini Pushkarna today isssued notice on a plea seeking directions to restrain DDA from carrying out its demolition drive till a fresh demarcation of the area is conducted.

It was hearing a plea moved by Mehrauli Minorities Resident and Shop Owners Welfare Association, a registered society, for directions to carry out a joint demarcation in the area.