AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan withdraws PIL against Batla House demolition drive, to inform residents of legal remedies
Amanatullah Khan’s move came after the Delhi HC indicated that passing a general order of protection through a PIL in such a case could “jeopardise cases of the individual litigant.”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan Wednesday withdrew his public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Batla House demolition drive after a vacation bench of the Delhi High Court indicated that the PIL shall not be maintainable as any court order on it may have a bearing on the rights of the affected individuals.
Khan made a statement before the division bench of Justices Girish Kathpalia and Tejas Karia that he seeks to withdraw the PIL, so that he, being “a public-spirited individual”, can “inform the local residents of Batla House their right to file appropriate proceedings before appropriate forum within 3 working days.”
In effect, this would leave the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which has been issuing demolition notices to properties on Khasra number 279, to take coercive action if it wishes to.
The order came after Khan expressed that he wanted to withdraw the petition. The submission came after the court dictated a reasoned order, holding the PIL to be not maintainable. Earlier, individuals affected by the demolition action and DDA notices approached the Delhi High Court and were granted protection by a single-judge bench. Khan had contended that while some have moved court, many others may not be aware of their legal rights to challenge the demolition action, or may be unable to move court. Khan had further contended that as a representative of the area, his PIL would then cover all such residents.
The bench however indicated that passing a general order of protection through a PIL in such a case would also, “in all likelihood, jeopardise cases of the individual litigant,” as any finding of the court on the validity of the notices would have a bearing on a challenge which the aggrieved individual would intend to raise before the appropriate authority.
Justice Kathpalia orally remarked, “Our anxiety is, no injustice should be caused to anybody, but only thing we feel is, individuals have to come.”
Initially, senior advocate Salman Khurshid, representing Khan, had indicated that he will withdraw the PIL after the DDA informed the court that it will not demolish the properties in the area. As the court was about to pass an order of stay on the demolition for three days, so that aggrieved parties can initiate appropriate proceedings for relief, the DDA did not consent to its assurance being taken on the court’s record.
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The bench then heard the plea on merits, inquiring first on the maintainability of the petition. Following submissions by Khurshid, the court then indicated that a PIL on the issue shall not be maintainable. However, Khan’s counsel finally agreed to withdraw the plea.
Sohini Ghosh is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express. Previously based in Ahmedabad covering Gujarat, she recently moved to the New Delhi bureau, where she primarily covers legal developments at the Delhi High Court
Professional Profile
Background: An alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), she previously worked with ET NOW before joining The Indian Express.
Core Beats: Her reporting is currently centered on the Delhi High Court, with a focus on high-profile constitutional disputes, disputes over intellectual property, criminal and civil cases, issues of human rights and regulatory law (especially in the areas of technology and healthcare).
Earlier Specialty: In Gujarat, she was known for her rigorous coverage in the beats of crime, law and policy, and social justice issues, including the 2002 riot cases, 2008 serial bomb blast case, 2016 flogging of Dalits in Una, among others.
She has extensively covered health in the state, including being part of the team that revealed the segregation of wards at the state’s largest government hospital on lines of faith in April 2020.
With Ahmedabad being a UNESCO heritage city, she has widely covered urban development and heritage issues, including the redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting from the Delhi High Court covers major political, constitutional, corporate, and public-interest legal battles:
High-Profile Case Coverage
She has extensively covered the various legal battles - including for compensation under the aegis of North East Delhi Riots Claims Commission - pertaining to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, as well as 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
She has also led coverage at the intersection of technology and governance, and its impact on the citizenry, from, and beyond courtrooms — such as the government’s stakeholder consultations for framing AI-Deepfake policy.
Signature Style
Sohini is recognized for her sustained reporting from courtrooms and beyond. She specialises in breaking down dense legal arguments to make legalese accessible for readers. Her transition from Gujarat to Delhi has seen her expand her coverage on regulatory, corporate and intellectual property law, while maintaining a strong commitment to human rights and lacuna in the criminal justice system.
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