Delhi HC Takes Note Of Misuse Of Farmhouses As Hotels

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday took note of the misuse of farmhouses for commercial purposes like hotels, leading to overcrowding on the roads, and sought to know if any order was passed at any time restricting the number of guests to such properties and the management of waste, so generated.

The court also sought to know if the authorities allowing use of farmhouses for other purposes (commercial) are assessing all relevant parameters, including waste generation.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar was hearing a petition concerning misuse of certain properties in Lado Sarai in South Delhi by a hotel called Sitara Garden.

While directing the impleadment of proper parties, the bench went on to say, "One of the grievances made in the writ petition is regarding overcrowding on the road on account of misuser of farmhouses. The respondents (South Delhi Municipal Corporation) shall place before us the orders, if any, in Delhi or anywhere else in the country, made at any point of time, regarding restrictions on number of guests and the size of the contents of menus."

"This court is already examining the inability of the municipal corporations to manage the garbage which is generated on routine basis.

"It has to be examined as to whether the relevant inputs are taken into account for policy- and decision-making by the authorities who scrutinise the applications for permission to use their farmhouses for other purposes,” it said.