The Delhi High Court on Wednesday called on the Central and Delhi governments to collaboratively address the long-standing issue of the regularisation of Sainik Farm, a prominent but unofficial colony in South Delhi. The bench, led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, expressed frustration over the ongoing indecision between the two levels of government.
During the session, the court highlighted the lack of progress, noting that neither demolition nor legalization actions had been taken despite previous discussions. “Matter is oscillating between the Centre and the state. We can’t permit this to go on and on. You have to take a policy decision,” stated the bench. The justices proposed a joint meeting of the authorities to find a practical solution rather than prolonging the issue further.
The issue was brought into focus through multiple pleas, including a significant one filed in 2015, which argued for the colony’s regularisation. The court underscored that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Government of NCT of Delhi, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) need to collaboratively address the concerns raised.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 16, requesting lawyers from all sides to come prepared with clear instructions on their positions and potential resolutions.
In Wednesday’s hearing, the Centre’s counsel argued for maintaining the status quo, labeling Sainik Farm as an “affluent” neighborhood where neither repairs nor demolitions should proceed unchecked. Meanwhile, counsel for the petitioners requested permission for essential repairs in the interim, a plea the court hesitated to grant without broader regulatory approval.
The justices suggested that, considering the colony’s longstanding presence and complex legal status, a definitive policy decision was overdue. They hinted at possible solutions, including the amendment of regulations or the imposition of development charges, if there was sufficient political will to resolve the matter.
The court also expressed concern about the residents’ continuous state of uncertainty and fear due to the legal ambiguities surrounding their homes. It even offered to facilitate mediation if necessary to expedite a resolution.
This directive comes after years of legal and bureaucratic wrangling over the status of Sainik Farm, which has been categorized by the government as one of the capital’s affluent illegal colonies not prioritized for regularisation under current policies focusing instead on other unauthorized colonies.
