'Encroachers Must Yield': Delhi HC Permits Shalimar Bagh Road Expansion

Infrastructure Over Unauthorized Occupation

A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Madhu Jain, has permitted the critical widening of a public road in Shalimar Bagh. The Court firmly held that the private interests of occupants encroaching upon public land must always 'yield to the broader public interest'.

The bench emphasized that the proposed 30-metre expansion is non-negotiable for ensuring unhindered access to essential services, such as hospitals, schools, and emergency vehicles. However, recognizing the human impact, the Court directed the local government to evaluate the affected families for potential ex-gratia relief or rehabilitation.