The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday, a petition challenging the demolition drive carried out in Delhi’s Tughlaqabad area by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Sunday.
The Bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice M.M. Sundresh, while refusing to stay the demolition, issued notice to the Union of India, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
Earlier in the day, Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves had mentioned the matter before Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, who then asked the petitioners to mention the case before the Bench led by Justice Khanna.
Gonsalves then apprised the Bench led by Justice Khanna that many years ago, areas surrounding the Tughlaqabad Fort were ordered to be cleared and the Delhi government had offered alternate rehabilitation for the residents. However, relocation has not been done yet.
The Apex Court, while noting that there was a lot of unauthorised encroachment in the area, ruled that under the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, it would now be difficult or almost impossible to acquire so much land due to the amount of compensation needed.
Representing the Delhi government, Advocate Shadan Farasat sought time from the Apex Court, stating that the process of relocation had already started.
The Bench, however, listed the case for further hearing tomorrow.