The Delhi High Court pressed the Centre and Delhi government for answers on the long-delayed regularisation of South Delhi’s Sainik Farm colony, where residents have been unable to make even basic repairs for years. A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela voiced frustration over the authorities’ indecision, accusing them of “passing the buck” while leaving residents in limbo, with the court ultimately bearing the burden.

“What is the central government, in consultation with the state, doing to regularise these colonies?” the bench demanded during a Wednesday hearing of petitions, some dating back to 2015, seeking regularisation and permission for property repairs. The court urged the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Delhi government, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to collaborate and decide the fate of Sainik Farm’s residents, who have lived there since the 1950s despite their constructions being deemed illegal.

The bench questioned why the authorities couldn’t propose straightforward legislation to address the issue, stating, “Residents have been hanging fire for 10-15 years, unable to lay a brick for repairs.” It emphasized that the current statutory framework offers no viable solution and warned that large-scale demolitions would leave the court no choice but to dismiss the petitions. “You know why and how they exist, yet you do nothing to mitigate their problems,” the court remarked.

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When the Delhi government’s counsel cited a 2019 Central notification barring action on affluent colonies, the bench insisted the administration advocate for residents before relevant authorities. “This situation may require proper legislation,” the court noted, stressing the urgency of a resolution given the decades-long residency of Sainik Farm’s inhabitants.

The court’s push for a collaborative and legislative solution reflects the growing need to address the legal and practical challenges of unauthorised colonies like Sainik Farm, balancing urban planning with residents’ rights. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on October 8, with the court expecting concrete steps to resolve the ongoing stalemate.

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