In unauthorised colonies, village abadi areas and abadi extensions, status quo as on March 31, 2002 would be maintained as on February 8, 2007. In all other areas, the status quo would be that of January 1, 2006, the notification says.

The circular says these orders stand “notwithstanding any judgment, decree or order of the court”. The intent, the ministry notice says, is to ensure people do not face any “hardship” till policy guidelines to deal with unauthorised constructions are finalised.

Though the provision is already in the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act 2007, Urban Development ministry sources say the notification comes because these guidelines are being “flouted rampantly”. “This Act means the court and monitoring committee have to follow its provisions,” a ministry official said. “But it had come to our notice that despite relief provided by the Act, they had been issuing demolition orders.”

Mayor Arti Mehra, meanwhile, called it a “purely political” move since “it talks of addressing problems only till the state elections”.

Leader of the House in MCD and BJP councillor Subhash Arya said the only way of providing relief is to regularise all unauthorised constructions, projections, sub-division of residential plots, and constructions above 15 metres in height by a one-time general amnesty scheme.