Delhi HC Orders Decision on Sainik Farm Regularisation Within Two Months
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre and Delhi authorities to take a decision regarding the regularisation of the Sainik Farm colony in South Delhi within two months.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that while constructions in Sainik Farm were illegal, the authorities must work towards finding a practical solution. The court orally remarked that authorities could charge development charges, devise a scheme identifying what can be preserved or what must be demolished, and conduct a survey to prepare a plan to save as much construction as possible.
The Bench directed officials from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Delhi government, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to meet and deliberate on the matter in accordance with a previous court order issued on August 13, 2025.
During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Centre, submitted that the government could take a comprehensive view on the matter only after the Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2047, prepared by the DDA, receives central approval and is formally notified.
The court directed the concerned authorities to complete the exercise within the two-month timeframe and listed the matter for further hearing in November.
The directions were issued during the hearing of a batch of petitions seeking the regularisation of the South Delhi colony. In its August 13, 2025, order, the High Court had asked the Centre and Delhi authorities to jointly consider the issue and address the concerns raised by petitioners.
The Centre had previously sought the continuation of the status quo in Sainik Farm, describing it as an affluent colony. The issue has remained pending before the High Court for several years. In April 2022, while hearing a plea moved by Ramesh Dugar, convener of the area development committee at Sainik Farm, the court had noted that it was high time the matter was resolved once and for all, stating that authorities could not leave the status of the colony pending indefinitely.
