Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has initiated a comprehensive citywide exercise to identify the misuse of residential premises for non-residential purposes. This action follows recent directives issued by the Supreme Court of India, which has taken a strict stance on unauthorized commercial activities in residential zones.
According to an official communication dated April 20, 2026, the apex court has directed all municipal corporations in Delhi to conduct a detailed inquiry into violations within their jurisdictions. In compliance, the MCD has instructed all Zonal Deputy Commissioners to undertake a time-bound and exhaustive survey.
The exercise will cover all residential colonies, including unauthorized, regularized, and approved layouts, as well as group housing societies and plotted developments. Notably, even areas falling outside strict administrative boundaries but geographically surrounded by MCD zones—often referred to as “urban pockets” or “islands”—will be included in the survey.
Officials have been directed to carry out field verification and prepare a zone-wise list of properties being misused for commercial or other non-residential activities. The MCD has emphasized that all findings must be accurate, properly verified, and supported with documented evidence, as these reports will form the basis of an affidavit to be submitted before the Supreme Court.
To ensure accountability, the directive clearly states that responsibility will be fixed at appropriate levels in cases of omission or incorrect reporting. The compiled reports are to be submitted to the Additional Commissioner (Engineering) within a strict timeline of seven days, and must be personally affirmed by the concerned officials.
The communication also warns that any delay or laxity in compliance will be viewed seriously, given the direct oversight of the Supreme Court. The matter has been categorized as “Most Urgent / Top Priority,” underscoring the gravity of the issue.
Urban planners and governance experts view this move as a crucial step toward restoring planned development norms in Delhi, where mixed land use and unauthorized commercial activities have long posed challenges to infrastructure, traffic management, and residential quality of life.
Also Read: Regularisation of Properties in Unauthorised Colonies Begins in Delhi
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