The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) informed the Delhi High Court on Tuesday that it would halt the demolition of illegal structures in Bhalswa Dairy colony, located in northwest Delhi, until August 16.
This date aligns with the court’s schedule to address a related matter.
The MCD’s counsel made this statement after a representative for the colony’s residents notified the court that MCD bulldozers, accompanied by a heavy police presence, had arrived in the area for demolition.
The issue was mentioned before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. Following the MCD’s counsel’s oral statement, the court decided to take up the matter on August 16, when it will also hear a petition concerning the condition of dairies in the city.
In July, the court had directed authorities to remove unauthorized construction in all dairy colonies in the national capital and instructed them to take immediate steps to relocate dairies from Bhalswa to Ghogha dairy colony within four weeks.
On Tuesday, the court learned that the MCD issued a demolition order on Monday evening, with bulldozers and police force arriving in the area on Tuesday morning.
The court was also informed that four deaths occurred on Monday, but this claim was met with stern disapproval from the bench. The court accused the representative of attempting to scandalize it by implying the deaths were linked to MCD’s actions. The bench warned against politicizing the issue and advised focusing on the city’s welfare instead. The lawyer clarified that he was merely relaying information as provided and not seeking to politicize the matter.
The MCD has identified 800 illegal structures in the area and plans to relocate over 400 dairies, which house hundreds of animals, to Ghogha dairy on the outskirts of Delhi. A public notice issued last week gave a three-day ultimatum for defaulters to vacate the encroached premises, stating that enforcement action would be taken against illegal constructions after the deadline, followed by a demolition drive. However, according to an official, the MCD has so far served notices to only 100 dwellers.
As per MCD land use rules, dairy plots are designated solely for cattle sheds and cannot be repurposed for residential units. The MCD’s actions follow a high court directive to survey Bhalswa Dairy colony and identify misuse of dairy plots that have been converted into dwelling units and shops or are being used for industrial purposes.
The court had previously been informed by the court commissioner that all nine designated dairy colonies in Delhi—Kakrola Dairy, Goela Dairy, Nangli Shakrawati Dairy, Jharoda Dairy, Bhalswa Dairy, Ghazipur Dairy, Shahbad Daulatpur Dairy, Madanpur Khadar Dairy, and Masoodpur Dairy—were in poor condition. Photographs of these dairies showed significant urbanization, with some areas housing salons, showrooms, gymnasiums, and internet cafes.
The court noted that the character of these colonies had shifted from dairy operations to commercial and residential purposes, with structures as tall as four stories erected.
