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Supreme Court Orders Demolition of 16,726 Illegal Structures in Meerut, Appoints Justice Dhulia
A City of 16,726 : 's Shock and Action
In a sweeping order that underscores the scale of unauthorised construction in Meerut, the on , directed authorities to demolish 16,726 identified in Zone-A of the city and appointed a headed by former judge Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia to probe the proliferation of illegal residential colonies in Uldepur.
A bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan, hearing arising from with earlier directions on illegal constructions, expressed alarm at the extent of violations revealed in a status report filed by P. Guruprasad, Chairman of the .
“The overall picture, as reflected from the status report, appears to be extremely grim and serious. The authorities need to work day and night to demolish these ,” the bench observed.
Justice Dhulia to Lead Judicial Probe into Uldepur's Illegal Colonies
The court was “shocked and disturbed” to learn that hundreds of illegal residential colonies had come up at Uldepur, on the outskirts of Meerut. The colonies were allegedly constructed without permission or sanctioned plans from the , despite the land being privately owned.
To unravel the chain of inaction, the bench appointed Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as Chairperson of a with a broad remit: to determine whether the land belongs to the government or private individuals, how transactions between landowners and purchasers occurred, and why the MDA remained passive for over five years. The Commission is also tasked with examining whether MDA officials colluded with builders.
The has been directed to provide secretarial assistance and deposit ₹35 lakh within a week for the Commission’s remuneration. Meanwhile, the court ordered the immediate demolition of every illegal structure in Uldepur and the daily removal of debris.
Demolition Drive: 24 Sealed Properties, 138 Setback Violations to Fall
The status report detailed progress on 44 sealed properties where residential plots had been converted for commercial use. Twenty of these have already been demolished; the court ordered the remaining 24 to be razed “at the earliest.” Of these, 38 had sanctioned building plans but featured unauthorised additions, while six were sold as plots without any plan approval.
In mandatory setback areas, 201 properties were identified as violating norms. While 63 have been cleared, the court directed expeditious action against the remaining 138.
‘ ’ Warning for Officials Over Dilapidated Structures
The court warned that many of the 16,726 structures in Zone-A could be dilapidated and pose a . “It is possible that some of these structures may be in a and may collapse, resulting in casualties. We do not want this to happen at any cost,” the bench said.
It made clear that “God forbid, tomorrow if some untoward incident occurs and innocent lives are lost, the responsible government officer shall be held personally liable.”
Authorities were directed to first ask occupants to vacate, then seal and demolish all 16,726 structures. The order also covered 486 EWS and LIG properties where commercial activities had been stopped.
Next Hearing in December: Authorities to Report on All Four Zones
The bench noted that the report was silent on Zones B, C and D, and directed a comprehensive status report on all zones by the next hearing on . It warned that any person—public servant, elected representative or otherwise—who will be .
The order also recorded that the petitioner had received threats, and the State was directed to ensure his safety.
With this judgment, the has sent a clear message: unauthorised construction on this scale will not be tolerated, and those who fail to act will face personal consequences.
