Deadline to vacate Signature View Apartments extended to Oct.10; judicial panel to monitor reconstruction

The Delhi High Court has orally directed the authorities to extend the deadline of vacating the Signature View Apartments in Mukherjee Nagar, which have been declared unsafe and await reconstruction, by 10 days to October 10, an advocate representing the residents said on Tuesday.

The formal order is expected on Wednesday. “The High Court gave oral directions on September 9, accepting the extension till October 10. We had initially requested October 30, but the court agreed to the interim date while reserving the order,” said advocate Ashu Arora.

The initial deadline set by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which constructed the flats, was July 31. It was extended several times at the residents’ request.

The residents had approached the court seeking several reliefs, including the calculation of rent from the actual date of vacating the flats rather than from January 1, 2025, set by the DDA, a 10% annual rent hike as per a High Court order, rent continuation till reallocation, and a waiver of penalties for missing fixtures. “The DDA is demanding recovery of damages for missing fixtures like taps and fittings during the handover, even though the court has clarified the authorities cannot put pressure on residents to return original fittings,” she said.

The court has also ordered the formation of a judicial committee to monitor the reconstruction of the 12-tower complex, ensuring that it is completed within three years. The panel will oversee the process and help resolve any issues that arise during the transition, said Ms. Arora.

Additionally, the court suggested that the DDA set up a camp within the apartment complex to facilitate the handover of possession documents.

“Out of 336 flats, 198 have been vacated so far. About 130 families left by early August, and we expect around 100 more to vacate the flats after or during Navratri due to traditional beliefs,” said Gaurav Pandey, the apartment RWA secretary.

The residents have also challenged the DDA’s plan to extend the floor area ratio to build 160 additional flats. The court has listed the matter for hearing in November.

Signature View Apartments, part of a 2010 DDA housing scheme, consists of 336 flats. Although possession began in 2012, structural issues surfaced soon after, with cracks in pillars and columns, plaster falling off buildings, and deteriorating ceilings. In December 2024, a single-judge Bench order directed the demolition of unsafe buildings and mandated that the DDA pay a monthly facilitation amount. The compensation will increase by 10% annually until the reconstructed flats are handed over.