The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition seeking to stop the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) from demolishing a refugee settlement at Majnu Ka Tila, occupied by around 800 Pakistani-Hindu refugees.
In its ruling, Justice Dharmesh Sharma vacated an earlier interim stay order issued on March 12, stating the petitioners “have no right to continue to occupy the area in question.”
No Relief Despite Humanitarian Grounds
The court acknowledged attempts to coordinate with authorities for relocation of the refugees but said these efforts were hampered by bureaucratic delays, particularly from the Union of India. However, it clarified that refugee rehabilitation is a policy issue and beyond judicial intervention.
Environment Takes Priority
Citing the ecological sensitivity of the Yamuna floodplains, the court emphasized that protecting the environment must take precedence.
“Humanitarian considerations cannot override environmental imperatives,” the court noted, highlighting that delaying such demolitions could obstruct vital public projects for restoring the Yamuna River.
The demolition drive follows directives from the Supreme Court, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and the Delhi High Court itself to clear encroachments from the floodplain area.
Filed by petitioner Ravi Ranjan Singh, the plea had urged the court to halt the demolition until alternative land was allotted under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019. It also referenced embankments and protections granted to prominent structures like the Akshardham Temple and the Commonwealth Games Village, seeking similar safeguards for the refugee camp.
The court, however, remained firm that policy decisions and land allocation fall under executive jurisdiction and declined to intervene.
With the court’s decision, the DDA is expected to proceed with the eviction and demolition process. The fate of the displaced families now depends on government action for rehabilitation, which remains uncertain.
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