NEW DELHI: Following recent directives from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Delhi High Court, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has reached out to Delhi Police to assist in evacuating 336 flats at Signature View Apartments, requesting urgent action.
However, a senior police official indicated that no notification had been received so far.
After an assessment by IIT Delhi in 2022, the MCD had declared the apartment complex unsafe in 2023. In December 2024, the High Court confirmed the buildings were uninhabitable, mandating their demolition and reconstruction, and ordered immediate evacuation.
DDA recently announced that July 31 is the deadline for residents to vacate the premises. Residents, however, claimed they had not received any fresh eviction notice and stated that the time provided was inadequate for relocation.
In a letter sent to the deputy commissioner of police (Northwest) on July 14, the deputy commissioner of Civil Lines zone urged prompt action to clear the apartments.
“This letter highlights an urgent matter regarding the immediate vacation of Signature View Apartments… The High Court has upheld the MCD’s declaration that these buildings are unsafe for habitation and ordered their demolition and later reconstruction. Therefore, we request that the flats be evacuated swiftly, especially given the rainy season, to prevent any unfortunate incidents,” the letter stated.
The MCD mentioned that residents failed to meet the court-ordered evacuation deadline of March 23, which has now expired by three months. The municipal authority confirmed that evacuation notices had been issued to all residents in Towers A to L.
A senior MCD official noted that notices were served in 2023 due to the premises being deemed unsafe, stating that there was no need to serve them again. “Evicting residents is now the police’s responsibility, as it doesn’t fall under our jurisdiction,” the official added.
Residents of Signature View Apartments are requesting the authority to provide rent compensation to those who vacated before the court’s directive.
“MCD issued notices before the court case started, and we are still unsure if rent compensation will begin immediately upon vacating. There needs to be clarity on this process,” said Amrendra Jha, a resident.
Constructed by DDA in 2010, Signature View Apartments have faced structural concerns over the years, including cracks in pillars, beams, and walls. An IIT report declared the towers unsafe, leading to the LG’s order for their demolition and rebuilding in 2023.
