New Delhi: A religious structure known as Dargah Panchpeer in Delhi’s Mangolpuri Industrial Area Phase-II, Truck Market, was demolished on Wednesday morning after the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) concluded in its examination that it was an unauthorised encroachment on DDA land.
The action followed two years of evidence-backed complaints made by Save India Foundation.
The complaints, first made in 2024, led to a show-cause notice to the Dargah management and a subsequent recommendation by the religious committee of the Delhi Government for removal of the unauthorised structure.
According to documents reviewed by Rashtra Jyoti, the DDA had issued a show-cause notice dated 8 May 2024 to the occupant of Dargah Panchpeer, stating that the occupant was carrying out “unauthorized encroachment by additions/alterations” over DDA land.
The notice said such encroachments were against building bye-laws and norms of DDA under Section 30(1) of the Delhi Development Act. The occupant was asked to explain why an order of demolition should not be passed.
The matter had been raised before DDA by Preet Singh Sirohi, founder president of Save India Foundation, who submitted complaints alleging that the dargah had been illegally built.
He sought eviction of occupants and sought demolition.
Following the failure of the Dargah management to furnish any reply or proof of their ownership of the land, DDA’s Executive Engineer wrote to Deputy Secretary (Home), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, seeking approval and guidelines for demolition of the structure.
The letter stated that an “unauthorised religious structure in the shape of Mazar” existed on the land and that police help would be required for its removal.
The case was then placed before the Religious Committee of GNCTD. In the minutes of its meeting held on 22 November 2024, the committee recorded that the structure had been constructed on DDA land and recommended demolition, directing that requisite police force be provided for the action.
The recommendation was later forwarded by the Home Department on 1 January 2025 to senior Delhi Police officials, municipal authorities, and DDA officials for necessary action.
The demolition on 6 May 2026, therefore, was not a sudden action. It came after:
- complaints alleging encroachment on DDA land,
- DDA inspection and correspondence,
- issuance of a show-cause notice,
- reference to the GNCTD Religious Committee,
- committee recommendation for demolition, and
- request for police assistance to carry out the removal.
Note: Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation, the welfare arm of Rashtra Jyoti, supported the legal activism by Save India Foundation in this case.
