In a scathing judgment, the Delhi High Court held the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) accountable for the unsafe and substandard construction of the Signature View Apartments in Mukherjee Nagar. Labeling the situation as a glaring example of negligence, the Court approved the demolition of the residential complex and mandated immediate interim rent payments to displaced residents.
The court’s decision comes after years of complaints from residents who endured deteriorating living conditions. Justice Mini Pushkarna remarked that the DDA’s actions violated the fundamental right to life, placing hundreds of families in danger. “The substandard construction has jeopardized lives, making such negligence unpardonable,” she noted.
Unsafe from the Start
Built under a DDA housing scheme launched in 2010, the Signature View Apartments housed 336 flats. Issues began surfacing within a few years, with exterior plaster crumbling by 2013 and interior ceilings collapsing as early as 2012. Despite periodic repairs, the High Court found that the measures were superficial and failed to address the deep structural flaws that rendered the buildings irreparable.
By December 2023, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi officially declared the complex dangerous, leading to a proposed demolition and rehabilitation plan finalized mid-2023. While most residents supported reconstruction, disagreements arose over the timeline for interim rent payments, with the DDA insisting on a complete evacuation before compensating residents.
Key Court Rulings
- Demolition Upheld:
The Court endorsed the plan to demolish the unsafe buildings, citing numerous expert reports confirming the structural hazards. - No Additional Flats in Common Areas:
The DDA’s proposal to construct 168 extra flats in the complex’s common areas was struck down, with the Court affirming that such spaces belong to the flat owners. - Prompt Rent Payments:
In a significant win for residents, the Court ordered the DDA to pay interim rent immediately upon a resident vacating their flat, setting amounts at ₹50,000 for High-Income Group (HIG) flats and ₹38,000 for Middle-Income Group (MIG) flats. The rent is subject to a 10% annual increase to account for potential delays in reconstruction.
Justice Pushkarna emphasized that residents should not endure further hardship due to bureaucratic inefficiencies. The judgment also underlined the necessity for dignified living spaces with adequate open areas for the displaced families.
The case highlights systemic flaws in public housing projects and the importance of accountability in ensuring safe and sustainable living conditions for citizens. Reconstruction of the Signature View Apartments will now proceed, with assurances of timely rehabilitation for the affected residents.
