**Policy Summary: Leasehold Plots and Houses for Refugees in Delhi**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4714 on August 21, 2025, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs addresses the status of plots and houses leased to refugees in Delhi following the 1947 partition. The Ministry, through the Land Development Office (originally under the Ministry of Rehabilitation and later the Delhi Development Authority), allocated plots, houses, and tenements to refugees on a leasehold basis in various Rehabilitation Colonies across Delhi.
The response acknowledges that the lease periods for these properties vary, with some leases having expired while others have been converted to freehold. The attached annexure lists the Rehabilitation Colonies under the purview of the Land Development Office and the Delhi Development Authority.
The government is actively considering the renewal of expired leases and the potential conversion of leasehold properties to freehold. Policy decisions regarding these matters are reviewed periodically.
The annexure provides a comprehensive list of Rehabilitation Colonies, including (but not limited to): Lajpat Nagar (various sections), Nizamuddin East and West, Jangpura (various sections), Kalkaji, Moti Nagar, Patel Nagar (West, East, and South), Malka Ganj, Tilak Nagar, Kirti Nagar Industrial Area, Defence Colony, Rajinder Nagar (Old and New), Chittranjan Park, Narela, Mukherjee Nagar, Hudson Lane, Bhai Parmanand Colony, Karol Bagh, Paharganj, Daryaganj (North and South), and Jhilmil Tahirpur.
For further information, inquiries can be directed to the Land Development Office, Delhi Development Authority.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for housing and urban development.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
SHRI RAMVIR SINGH BIDHURI: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question No. 4714.
SHRI TOKHAN SAHU: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs who provided the answer.
Delhi: The Union Territory of India where plots and houses were given to refugees.
Land Development Office: Office responsible for administration and allocation of plots and houses to refugees in Delhi.
Delhi Development Authority: An organization that looked after refugees, and allocated plots, houses, and tenements to refugees in Delhi post-independence on a leasehold basis.
Ministry of Rehabilitation: A former Indian government ministry responsible for the rehabilitation of refugees after the partition of India in 1947.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4714
TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 21, 2025
PLOTS ON LEASE TO REFUGEES
NO. 4714. SHRI RAMVIR SINGH BIDHURI:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the colonies in which plots and houses were given to
refugees on lease in Delhi at the time of partition of the country in 1947
along with the period of lease;
(b) whether the lease of these plots and houses has expired now and if so,
the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to extend the lease of the said plots
and houses or make them freehold and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) to (c): Ministry of Rehabilitation (later looked after by the Land &
Development Office, Delhi Development Authority etc. for further
administration) allocated plots, houses, and tenements to refugees in
Delhi post-independence on a leasehold basis. The list of Rehabilitation
Colonies is annexed. Depending on the period of leases, some have
expired while some of the leases have already been converted from
leasehold to freehold. Policy with respect to renewal of expired leases is
also considered from time to time.
*****Annexure
Land & Development Office Rehabilitation Colonies
Sl.No. Colony
1 Double Storey Lajpat Nagar
2 Nizamuddin East and West
3 Jangpura Extension
4 Jangpura "A"
5 Jangpura "B"
6 Aliganj
7 Kalkaji D/S 'A' Block
8 Moti Nagar D/S
9 Rameshwari Nehru Nagar
10 Motia Khan Double Storey
11 West Patel Nagar D/S
12 Bharat Nagar
13 Malka Ganj D/S
14 BSA Vijay Nagar D/S
15 Indra Nagar
16 Andha Mughal
17 Sarai Rohilla
18 Gur-ki-Mandia
19 Tilak Nagar
20 Ramesh Nagar Double Storey and Single Storey
21 Industrial Area Kirti Nagar
22 Nicholson Road
23 Kalkaji
24 West Patel Nagar
25 Vijay Nagar
26 Malviya Nagar
27 East Patel Nagar
28 South Patel Nagar
29 Malka Ganj
30 Tehar-I
31 Tehar-II
32 Defence Colony
33 Shivalik
34 Old Rajinder Nagar
35 New Rajinder Nagar
36 Chittranjan Park
37 Lajpat Nagar-I
38 Lajpat Nagar-II
39 Lajpat Nagar-Ill
40 Dayanand Colony Lajpat Nagar-IV41 Amar Colony Lajpat Nagar-IV
42 Vikram Vihar Lajpat Nagar-IV
43 Vinobapuri
44 Moti Nagar
45 Narela
46 Jheel Khuranja
47 Hakikat Nagar
48 Pusa Road
Delhi Development Authority Rehabilitation Colonies
Sl. No. Colony
1. Mukherjee Nagar
2. Hudson Lane/Outram Lane
3. Bhai Parmanand colony
4. New Gupta Colony
5. Priyadarshini Vihar
6. Indra Vihar
7. Naiwala
8. Basti Rehgar
9. Karol Bagh
10. Bagh Raoji
11. Shidipura
12. Jhandewalan
13. Qadam Sharif
14. Paharganj
15. Burn Bastion Road
16. Gestin Bastion Road
17. Daryaganj South
18. Chirag North
19. Chirag South
20. Jhilmil Tahirpur
21. Inderpat
22. Arakpur Bagh Mochi
23. Aliganj
24. Southern Ridge
25. Sadar Bazar North
26. Sadar Bazar South
27. .Inside City Wall
28. Daryaganj North
29. The Bela