The Delhi High Court has directed clearance of encroachments in Village Haiderpur, Shalimar Bagh, to facilitate widening of a key road providing access to Max Hospital, granting time to occupants to vacate their premises.

The case arises from a challenge to notices issued by the Land Acquisition Collector (LAC) for taking possession of land acquired decades ago for planned development. The Court noted that the land had been acquired pursuant to notifications under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and awards passed in 1980–81, with compensation also deposited.

Authorities submitted that the existing road is extremely narrow despite being designated as a 30-metre-wide road under the Master Plan hindering movement of ambulances and emergency vehicles. It was further stated that several occupants had raised unauthorised residential and commercial constructions on the acquired land.

In earlier proceedings, the Court had directed occupants to place documents establishing their claims and participate in hearings before the ADM, while also calling for a detailed survey and list of affected properties. The Court emphasised that any demolition or eviction must strictly comply with the Supreme Court’s guidelines on removal of unauthorised structures.

The matter involves over 150 occupants, and the Court has been monitoring the process to balance procedural safeguards with the need for public infrastructure development.

Appearances:

For the Petitioner: Mr. Vinod Dahiya, Mr. Kuldeep Antil, Mr. Ankit Malik, Ms. Shreya Garg, Mr. Bhaskar Dongwal & Mr. Dhruv Khurana, Advs.

For the Respondents: Mr Chetan Sharma, ASG with Mr Sanjay Kumar Pathak, Standing Counsel with Mr Sameer Vasishit Standing Counsel with Mr. S. S.

Parihar DM/DC Central-north with Mr Rajiv Ranjan ADM/Central -North

with Mr Dheeraj, Kumar, Mr Sunil Kumar Jha, Mr Mohd Sueb Akhtar, Advocates for R-1 to 3.

Mr. Shashi Pratap Singh, Ms. Shagun Sabharwal, Ms. Laqshyaa Saluja & Ms. Anamika Tyagi, Advs. for R-4.