The Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government and Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) to resolve pending approvals for the Ansal housing project within two weeks. According to reports from Business Standard, a Bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran ordered the authorities to jointly consider the proposal already forwarded by the GDA and take a final decision on renewal of the development licence and approval of revised building plans. The court emphasized that nearly 1,600 homebuyers have waited 19 years for their homes to be delivered, with the bench remarking that 'you are supposed to protect the interest of these homebuyers. It is your callous attitude that leads to such litigations.'
Justice Pardiwala questioned the state government's prolonged delay, remarking that 'it's been now 19 years, one nine' and homebuyers are still waiting for their flats. As reported by Business Standard, the court expressed displeasure over the authorities' conduct, stating that 'you are supposed to protect the interest of these homebuyers. It is your callous attitude that leads to such litigations.' The Bench gave the authorities 'one last opportunity' to resolve the matter, with the court directing the Principal Secretary and GDA Vice Chairman to jointly resolve the issues and place a reasoned decision before it within two weeks. During the hearing, Justice Pardiwala specifically questioned why no final decision had been taken despite the GDA forwarding a proposal to the State government.
The case involves One City Infrastructure Private Limited, the successful resolution applicant (SRA), which argued that despite approval of its resolution plan under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), the GDA's refusal to renew the development licence had stalled the project. According to Business Standard, Senior Advocate Nikhil Goel, appearing for the SRA, submitted that his client had stepped into the shoes of the corporate debtor under the NCLT-approved resolution plan and was only seeking recognition of its rights over the 26-acre parcel and approval of revised plans to complete the project. The original developer, Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Limited (APIL), remains willing to compensate homebuyers with interest and redevelop the project if the 26-acre parcel is returned.
Representing the homebuyers, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy highlighted that hundreds of families were living in partially completed buildings without basic civic amenities and sought early implementation of the resolution plan. As reported by Business Standard, she submitted that the prolonged dispute had left residents without proper roads, sewage facilities, and other essential infrastructure. The Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh, joined the proceedings virtually, while the GDA Vice Chairman appeared before the Court pursuant to the court's order passed on July 29. The bench observed that the issues required an immediate decision by the state, with Justice Pardiwala noting that the GDA had sought guidance from the State government on three key issues: whether revised building plans could be approved, responsibility for common infrastructure development, and whether APIL or the SRA would construct EWS and LIG housing.
