Supreme Court Orders Sealing of 16,726 Properties, Demolition of Illegal Structures in Meerut

The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to seal over 16,000 properties in Meerut and demolish unauthorised structures, taking serious note of illegal constructions and the conversion of residential properties for commercial use. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan also constituted a judicial commission led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia to conduct a thorough inquiry in Uldepur, on the outskirts of Meerut, into the nature of the land on which illegal residential colonies have developed. "Shocked and disturbed". "We are shocked and disturbed to learn, reading the status report, that hundreds of illegal residential colonies have come up at Uldepur," the bench said, after perusing the report by P Guruprasad, Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad. According to the survey cited in the court's September 21 order, Meerut has been divided into four zones. In Zone-A alone, 16 teams deputed for inspection and survey identified 16,726 structures as absolutely illegal or unauthorised. Of these, 12,907 comprise residential constructions, 874 are residential-cum-non-residential, and 2,945 are non-residential. The top court was hearing a contempt petition related to non-compliance with previous directives on illegal constructions. Sealing first, then demolition. The bench instructed authorities to take appropriate action against all 16,726 illegal structures in Zone-A at the earliest. "The first step in the process is to ask the occupants to vacate the premises and to seal all these premises, i.e., the 16,726 illegal structures. We direct accordingly," it said. The court noted the possibility that some dilapidated structures could collapse and cause casualties, adding that prompt action was necessary in all four zones. It warned that in the event of any incident leading to loss of innocent lives, the responsible government officer would be held personally liable. The report did not cover Zones B, C and D, and the court has sought a comprehensive report on those zones at the next hearing. Meanwhile, it underscored that demolition of the identified structures in Zone-A should proceed. The order has sparked local resistance in Meerut, with traders seeking support to protect their homes and establishments, while authorities say the enforcement is legally mandated. Sources: SC orders sealing of over 16,000 properties, demolition of illegal structures in Meerut | Amar Ujala (PTI) (https://english.amarujaladigital.co...es-demolition-of-illegal-structures-in-meerut) | Illegal construction: Supreme Court directs UP govt to seal properties in Meerut | Verdictum (https://www.verdictum.in/supreme-co...erut-demolish-unauthorised-structures-1622775) | Meerut latest news today, September 27th 2026 | LatestLY (https://www.latestly.com/india/news...ies-heavy-rains-sp-leader-arrest-7622275.html)