Welcome Relief: Delhi HC’s Empowering Order for Beleaguered Signature View Residents as DDA Must Pay Rent

Shweta Verma, a former resident of Signature View Apartments in Mukherjee Nagar, breathed a sigh of relief as the Delhi High Court directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to compensate displaced residents. Verma, who was compelled to leave her 3BHK flat in April 2023 after the buildings were declared unsafe, has been managing dual financial burdens: rent for her new accommodation and EMI for her original flat. The ruling mandates the DDA to pay Rs 38,000 monthly for middle-income group flats and Rs 50,000 for high-income group homeowners, starting from the date of evacuation. This sum is set to increase by 10% annually until the reconstructed flats are handed back to the owners.

The court dismissed the DDA’s proposal to commence payments only after all 336 flats were vacated, noting that 125 families have already left. Residents, including Verma, welcomed the “pro-resident” judgment, while Amarender Jha, a former RWA president who continues to live in the complex despite its hazardous state, emphasized the urgency of implementing the order.

The ruling follows the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s demolition order after an IIT-Delhi report identified severe structural issues. Justice Mini Pushkarna criticized the DDA’s “delinquency and gross negligence” and rejected its plan to add 168 flats on the existing site due to increased Floor Area Ratio (FAR) allowances, citing potential resource strain and property devaluation concerns.

Although residents view the decision positively, they remain apprehensive about the DDA’s next steps, fearing prolonged legal procedures if the authority appeals. The DDA has refrained from commenting as the case remains under judicial consideration.

Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/signature-view-delhi-hc-order-dda-rent-9750405/
Category : Cities,Delhi
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Publish Date: 2024-12-29 20:07:00