Gurugram Sealing Drive Leaves 40 Families Homeless Overnight; DLF Residents Demand Eviction Safeguards

Around 40 families were left scrambling for shelter after the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) sealed an illegally modified apartment building in DLF Phase 3, reigniting concerns over the human cost of Gurugram's ongoing anti-encroachment drive.

The action was taken against Amaltas Apartments in S Block, where authorities found that a plot approved for four families had allegedly been converted into a high-density paying guest-style complex. Officials said the building contained multiple unauthorised residential units spread across four floors and a basement.

For residents, however, the sealing came as a shock. Several tenants claimed they were away at work when the premises were sealed and returned to find themselves locked out of their homes. Some alleged they had received no prior warning from either authorities or the property owner.

One resident said his parents had arrived from Patna on the same day, while another claimed he had paid nearly ₹1.5 lakh in rent just a week earlier and was now struggling to arrange alternative accommodation. Others said personal belongings remained inside the sealed building.

DTCP Blames Property Owners

Defending the action, District Town Planner (Enforcement) Amit Madholia said the building was operating as a "small colony" in clear violation of building regulations.

He maintained that notices had been served to property owners in advance and alleged that landlords failed to inform tenants despite knowing about the impending action.

"The hardship faced by residents is unfortunate, but property owners are responsible for misleading tenants and continuing to profit from illegal units," he said.

The building owner, however, disputed the claim and insisted that no prior notice had been served.

Crackdown Continues

The sealing is part of a larger enforcement drive being carried out under directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court against illegal construction and commercial misuse of residential plots across DLF Phases 1 to 5.

With more actions expected in the coming weeks, residents are now demanding advance notice, a reasonable relocation period and mechanisms to recover security deposits and belongings before properties are sealed.