Certain Delhi Development Authority Officers Are Determined To Harass Common Citizens: Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, scorned at the Delhi Development Authority for filing frivolous objections against execution of an earlier order.

“I have already stated above the angst of this Court with respect to bodies such as the appellant/DDA and which think that they are law unto themselves. It is high time that strict action be taken against certain officers of public bodies like DDA who are harassing common/ordinary citizens of this country,” Justice Valmiki J. Mehta observed.

The Court was hearing an Execution Second Appeal filed by the DDA, refusing to hand over possession of the suit plot to the decree holders, contending that the Authority was entitled to payment of Rs. 1.5 lakhs as ground rent.

The Court, however, observed that there does not arise any claim of ground rent from the allottee, as it is common sense that such rent is paid for use, enjoyment and possession of the property, and would not be paid if the allottee was never in possession of the plot.

“This second appeal filed in execution proceedings is a classic reminder that certain officers in bodies like DDA have made it almost their determination to harass commons citizens of this country and may be even for certain unstated reasons,” it observed.

Therefore, declaring the Appeal as being frivolous, the Court dismissed it with costs of Rs. 25,000 to be deposited with the website www.bharatkeveer.gov.in and directed DDA to recover the said amount from the salary of its highest placed employee who took the decision to object to the grant of possession of the suit plot.

It also directed DDA’s Vice Chairman to set up an enquiry committee of three of its senior-most officers to hold an inquiry to fix responsibility of the objections, and ordered, “As against the officers who are found culpable, appellant/DDA will initiate departmental enquiries against such officers, and strict action in accordance with law be taken against such officers. The Vice Chairman of the appellant is directed to ensure that the enquiry committee is constituted within three weeks from today and such enquiry committee will give its report positively within a period of three months from today to this Court. Before the next date of hearing the appellant will also ensure that necessary follow up action is taken in terms of the report of the enquiry committee.” The matter has now been listed for compliance of directions on 12 December.