The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved its interim orders on whether to halt the demolition of Signature View Apartments in Mukherjee Nagar and the issuance of tenders for reconstruction, even as it expressed reluctance to interfere with the process, observing that any delay would only escalate costs and prolong hardship for residents.
A bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said it was disinclined to stop demolition or tendering but assured residents that rebuilt flats would be constructed under the court’s supervision and in compliance with safety standards. “The more the delay in reconstruction, the more it would increase the cost and also the rent… So any delay in the project is in nobody’s interest. No stay on demolition,” the bench remarked.
The bench clarified that tenders for reconstruction would not be floated until the redevelopment plan was prepared. “The plan will include building 168 flats… We’ll ensure that once it is vacated, the restructured apartments are constructed under our supervision, and we’ll ensure safety measures and structured designs,” the court said.
Counsel for the residents told the court that they were ready to vacate their flats but urged a restraint on the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) from demolishing the existing structure or floating tenders until the court decided on DDA’s plea regarding the construction of additional flats.
Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, pressed for directions to vacate the apartments in line with Justice Mini Pushkarna’s December 2023 order, which had held the buildings unsafe and unfit for habitation. That order required residents to vacate within three months while directing DDA to pay monthly rent until reconstructed units were handed over.
Jain assured that DDA would need time to finalise its demolition plan but would continue paying facilitation fees with a 10% annual increment until possession of the rebuilt flats.
The bench also issued notice on DDA’s petition challenging Justice Pushkarna’s ruling, which had barred the authority from constructing 168 additional flats as part of the redevelopment and had granted residents rights over an adjoining 0.67-hectare plot. It further reserved verdict on a petition by a resident challenging the rejection of a review plea against the December ruling.
