India

Delhi to Extend Protection for Illegal Colonies Until 2026

By Paras Singh, Saloni Bhatia

Delhi local bodies are preparing to recommend a three‑year extension of the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, which protects illegal constructions that appeared before June 2014. The act is set to lapse in December 2026 unless extended. The proposal follows concerns over recent building collapses in unplanned settlements and the slow uptake of the Pradhan Mantri Unauthorised Colonies Awas Adhikar Yojana (PM‑UDAY) scheme, which has received 137 applications and approved 22. A senior municipal official said the local bodies have already submitted a report and that Parliament will decide the final extension. The act originally provided one‑year protection in 2006, then was extended in 2007, 2009, 2011 and every three years thereafter until 2023. The 2023 amendment extended protection until December 31, 2026. In April 2026, the central government announced regularisation of 1,511 unauthorised colonies on an “as‑is‑where‑is” basis, estimating a population of 4.5 million. Since then, only 137 applications have been received and 22 approved. The PM‑UDAY deadline was extended from October 31 to January 31, 2027, with no conveyance deeds issued after the cut‑off. The scheme, launched in 2019, aims to grant ownership rights to residents of unauthorised colonies. The Union housing minister on April 7 announced that properties could be regularised without approved layout plans, easing a key requirement. The Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act has been criticised as a loophole that allows illegal structures to remain while the city struggles with a shortage of planned housing and commercial space.