The issue
A large complex around the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque near Turkman Gate and Ramlila Maidan had expanded onto land that government surveys confirmed was encroached public land.
Following complaint by Save India Foundation, a joint government survey in October 2025 identified 38,940 sq ft of encroachment.
The survey identified:
- 36,428 sq ft of MCD land occupied by commercial entities, including a baraat ghar, a private diagnostic centre and vehicle parking
- 2,512 sq ft of PWD land
- 7,343 sq ft containing the mosque/graveyard complex, whose ownership required separate determination
What we did
Save India Foundation first took the matter to the authorities and subsequently approached the Delhi High Court, challenging continued official inaction despite the government survey documenting the encroachment.
The litigation sought removal of unauthorised structures and restoration of public land.
Court intervention
On 12 November 2025, the Foundation won the case and the Delhi High Court directed authorities to clear approximately 38,940 sq ft of encroached land near Ramlila Ground.
Outcome
On 7 January 2026, MCD carried out the demolition. The action removed unauthorised structures including a baraat ghar/community-hall structure, shops, a dispensary/medical centre and other encroachments on roads and footpaths.
The operation followed the High Court's directions and triggered clashes in which police personnel were injured and arrests were made.
This, a major public-land encroachment documented through a government survey was ultimately subjected to court-directed enforcement, resulting in the removal of the identified unauthorised structures.
This case was backed by Rashtra Jyoti and Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation.
SUCCESS: A sustained legal intervention turned an officially documented encroachment into court-ordered enforcement and demolition.
