Centre, Delhi govt should decide over Sainik Farm regularisation: Delhi HC

Delhi High Court urges Centre and Delhi government to resolve Sainik Farm colony regularisation issue promptly.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (March 12, 2025) said the Centre and the Delhi government should iron out the issue of regularisation of Sainik Farm colony in south Delhi noting that the issue has been dragging for too long.

“Matter is oscillating between the Centre and the state. We can’t permit this to go on and on. You have to take a policy decision. We are not saying what to do. Either regularise or don’t.... (but) You are just dragging. Hume na karna pade, court kar de (let’s not do it, let court do it).. All of you sit together and find a solution, that is what we propose,” a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said.

The court, which was hearing pleas including one filed in 2015, on the colony’s regularisation, sought the assistance of the additional solicitor general and the Delhi government standing counsel.

“What we prima facie find is that the concern raised in the writ petitions needs to be addressed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development of government of India, government of NCT of Delhi and the MCD,” the court said.

The court posted the hearing on April 16 and asked the respective lawyers to seek instructions on the matter.

The Centre’s counsel on Wednesday said the status quo, in relation to the colony, should continue as it was an “affluent” neighbourhood and neither repairs nor demolition could be permitted there.

The counsel appearing for one of the petitioners urged the court to allow repairs in the meantime.