HC raps ASI for delay in surveying Tughlakabad Fort area to free it from encroachments

“When we summon the officers, then it starts pinching… Your officers should understand all this… (It takes) six months to finalise and choose an agency to conduct a survey,” it added.

The ASI’s counsel, admitting to the delay and apologising for the same, assured the court that the survey will be conducted expeditiously.

The scope of the survey — to be conducted by an agency appointed by the ASI — will include details such as the total area under encroachment, areas from which encroachments have been removed, detailed survey of the families residing in the area as well as number of jhuggi jhopdi clusters, private residential units, commercial establishments, schools and religious structures, among others.

The survey report is to be submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHuA).

In a meeting of a court-constituted committee on March 12, ASI director general (DG) had informed the committee that while “in-principle approval for finalising the agency to conduct the survey at the site has been received, however, the work order is yet to be issued”. The ASI DG, however, had assured the committee that the survey will be completed within two-three months.

The HC, on September 24, 2025, had constituted the committee to conduct the survey to “devise a joint policy decision” for removal of illegal encroachments as well as for rehabilitation of those “who may be required to be uprooted and displaced”. The court, at the time, had given a tentative timeline of two months for the survey and policy framing.