The Delhi High Court has directed officials of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Delhi Government, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to convene a meeting and take a considered decision on the long-pending issues concerning Sainik Farm, an unauthorised and unregularised colony in South Delhi.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia noted that petitions concerning the legality and construction-related issues of Sainik Farm have remained pending before the Court for more than a decade. The authorities have been directed to complete the exercise within two months and place the outcome before the Court at the next hearing in November.

The Bench directed the authorities to come forward with a scheme, policy decision or decision in principle following the meeting, observing that the issue could not be left unresolved indefinitely and that residents were entitled to know the eventual position concerning the colony.

The Court also noted that residents are presently not permitted even to undertake repairs to their properties, as the colony has no approved layout or building plans and the existing construction is unauthorised.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Central Government, submitted that earlier attempts to adopt a humanitarian approach and permit limited repair works had resulted in extensive construction in the area. He further informed the Court that the DDA has prepared a master plan for Delhi which is presently pending consideration by the Central Government.

Counsel appearing for the Sainik Farm residents, meanwhile, pointed out that the government has enacted legislation to regularise several unauthorised settlements in Delhi, while Sainik Farm has continued to remain outside such regularisation.