India, Sept. 17 -- The Delhi high court on Wednesday refused to stay the demolition of the Signature View Apartments (SVA) and asked over 100 families residing there in Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar to vacate until October 12.

A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to pay rent to the residents, a 10% annual increment, as long as they get the reconstructed flats. It asked the DDA to establish a camp office within the SVA premises to assist residents with documentation and other formalities related to the vacating and handing over of their flats within two days.

The court permitted residents to take their belongings, including bathroom fittings and electrical items. It a...