Delhi High Court Restricts Ramleela Function Bookings In DDA Grounds Till Fresh SOP Is Published

The Delhi High Court has barred any further offline or online bookings of Ramleela functions in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) grounds till a new SOP aur guidelines for booking is published by the authority.

Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju directed the DDA to formulate comprehensive SOPs or guidelines for booking of Ramleela sites within five weeks' and no later than June 25.

While asking the DDA to also publisize the guidelines or SOPs, the court ordered:

“In the meantime, no online/offline bookings of Respondent No.1/DDA ground/open spaces for Ramleela functions, shall be undertaken by the Respondent No.1/DDA, till the new SOPs guidelines for booking of Ramleela Sites is published by the Respondent No.1/DDA.”

The court was dealing with a plea moved by Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee for framing of guidelines and SOPs to resolve disputes regarding grant of permission to use sites to organize Ram Leelas in Delhi and appointment of an independent body to replace the Delhi Dharmik Mahasangh.

Even though DDA placed on records its policy for “streamlining the procedure for temporary allotment of open spaces/community halls for various functions”, the court said that the same did not set out any mention of a “list” prepared by the Delhi Dharmik Mahasangh or that the bookings for Ramleela Sites will be subject to orders passed by any other authority.

“In view of the fact that the Respondent No.1/DDA is now making the Ramleela Sites bookings subject to document which is to be submitted by a third party organization, it is necessary that the Respondent No.1/DDA puts in place a set of guidelines or an SOP for these bookings, to prevent further situations as had arisen in the year 2023,” the court said.

Noting that the parties submitted that the bookings for Ramleela Sites were already delayed, the court requested DDA to adhere to the timeline given in the order.

Counsel for Petitioners: Mr. Piyush Gupta, Mr. Karan Aggarwal, Mr. Himanshu Gupta, Ms. Khushboo Rai and Mr. Saurav Dogra, Advs

Counsel for Respondents: Ms. Manika Tripathy, Standing Counsel with Mr. Ashutosh Kaushik, Mr. Dishant Bhati and Mr. D.S. Bhardwaz, Advs. for R-1; Ms. Mehak Nakra, ASC with Ms. Aditi Kapoor and Mr. Devansh Solanki, Advs. for R-2; Ms. Shalini Pasricha, Adv. for R-3; Mr. Gaurav Seth and Ms. Akanksha Mehra, Advs. for R-4 &5

Title: SHREE HANUMANT DHARMIK RAMLEELA COMMITTEE REGD & ANR. v. DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY & ORS.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 639

Click here to read order