Gurugram Sealing Drive Displaces Hundreds as High Court Enforces Building Laws
On June 20, marketing manager Sanghamitra Pati received a phone call from her caretaker in Gurugram's DLF Phase 3, instructing her to vacate her rented room within two hours as the building was about to be sealed. Initially dismissing it as a prank, Pati soon realized the gravity of the situation when her landlord confirmed the news. With her belongings in the apartment and herself in Bhubaneswar, she had to ask a friend to break into the flat to salvage what he could. This incident marked the beginning of a large-scale sealing drive that has upended the lives of hundreds of tenants in Gurugram.
The drive, targeting unauthorized paying guest (PG) accommodations and illegally converted rental units, stems from a long-running legal dispute over building by-law violations, unauthorized constructions, and commercial use of residential properties, particularly Economically Weaker Section (EWS) plots. The matter originated in petitions filed by the DLF City Residents Welfare Association and other local groups in 2021 seeking enforcement of planning norms.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on February 13, 2025, directed the District Town Planner (Enforcement), Gurugram, to act against violations in residential colonies. However, the Supreme Court stayed the order on April 4, 2025. The matter returned to the High Court on November 26, 2025, which restrained the DTP (Enforcement) from taking action. On May 29, 2026, the court limited the protection to only those who had filed civil miscellaneous applications, allowing enforcement action to proceed against other properties.
More than 5,000 properties are facing action over zoning violations, including illegal PG operations, commercial use of residential plots, and encroachments on 'right of way' land reserved for public movement and infrastructure. For working professionals like Pati, the drive has meant sudden displacement, financial stress, and the fear that their home can be taken away at any time.
A 25-year-old woman from Kolkata, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the sealing drive in DLF Phase 3's S Block came without warning on June 18, leaving her with just 10 minutes to react. She was at work when a neighbor called. Half her belongings remained locked inside after the building was sealed. A week later, after tenants approached the District Town Planner's office, they were given a two-hour window to retrieve what was left. 'By then, everything was spoilt,' she said. She spent two weeks in a hotel before finding a new 1BHK in early July.
'Since the drive, demand for 1BHKs and 1RKs has shot up. Rents have skyrocketed. It's not just me — hundreds of professionals and families have been displaced. Choices are limited because so many buildings have already been sealed, and more are on the radar,' she added.
Pati considers herself fortunate to have been living alone, unlike families with toddlers and elderly parents who were forced to scramble. She has since moved into a group housing society with proper approvals, having learned a hard lesson. The crackdown continues, with authorities determined to enforce building regulations despite the human cost.
