South Delhi’s Sainik Farms stuck in legal limbo for years. High Court wants a decision now

In South Delhi's Sainik Farms, a dispute over its legal status has dragged on for over a decade. Founded in the late 1960s as a cooperative society to help war widows and retired defence personnel, the colony has been classified as an "affluent unauthorised" colony by the Delhi government, which has not granted it regularised status.

Despite numerous petitions and court hearings, the decision on whether Sainik Farms should be regularised remains unresolved. Recently, the Delhi High Court directed the Centre, Delhi government and civic authorities to hold a meeting and decide the issue within two months. The court noted that the Delhi Development Authority's Master Plan for Delhi (2047) is pending approval and may take more time to finalize.

In 2001, the Delhi HC had imposed a complete ban on the influx of building materials into Sainik Farms, but thousands of residences have since been constructed in the area. In 2019, residents were directed to submit specific details of repairs to the local civic body, despite the court order prohibiting minor repairs and white wash.

The High Court also expressed concern that previous permission granted to residents has led to "catastrophic results" and the construction of palatial homes.