New Delhi: The Land and Development Office (L&DO) has postponed the eviction and demolition process in Delhi’s Khyber Pass area after the Delhi High Court intervened. This area is home to Paris Olympic 2024 medalists’, Manu Bhaker Sarabjot Singh’s coach, Samaresh Jung, and over 200 other families.
Following his role in leading India’s pistol shooters to two bronze medals in Paris, coach Samaresh Jung anticipated a celebratory return. Instead, he was greeted with the alarming news that his home of several decades in the Khyber Pass area was slated for demolition, being labelled an illegal encroachment on Ministry of Defence land.
Jung, along with the other families, has requested additional time to relocate. He subsequently filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against the eviction, with a hearing set for August 5.
His family’s residence, of nearly 75 years, has been targeted for demolition as “illegal construction,” and the coach was given a 48-hour notice to vacate.
Known as ‘Goldfinger’ for his Commonwealth Games victories, the coach has sought a two-month extension to find new housing.
He maintains that he has been a long-term tenant of the property, consistently paying rent.
Upon returning from Paris with the shooting team, Jung discovered the eviction notice. “After the joy of Manu Bhaker winning two Olympic medals, I came back to the disheartening news that my house and neighbourhood are to be demolished within two days,” he expressed. “There has been no proper information or notice. How can families that have lived here for 75 years be expected to vacate by Sunday morning?”
The L&DO, part of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has labelled the entire Khyber Pass colony as an unauthorized settlement on Ministry of Defence land, issuing an immediate vacate notice. This sudden eviction has left the residents distressed as they scramble to find alternative housing.
While willing to comply with the law, Jung, a Commonwealth gold medalist has made an appeal for a reasonable time frame to relocate.
