High Court Seeks DDA's Response On Plea Alleging Insufficient Time Provided For Filing Suggestions/ Objections To Delhi Master Plan, 2041

The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a plea challenging a notification issued by the Delhi Development Authority in June this year, providing only 45 days' time to Delhi residents for filing their suggestions and objections with respect to the Delhi Master Plan, 2041.

According to the plea, the impugned notification is violative of Rule 5(1)(b) of the Delhi Development (Master Plan and Zonal Development) Rules, 1959 that provides for a period of 90 days for submitting suggestions and objections to the Master Plan. Moreover, it is stated that 45 days' period is not sufficient for stakeholder consultation in view of the ongoing pandemic.

The plea further avers that the DDA disclosed the baseline data of the Master Plan only 8 days before expiration of the deadline, thereby, the residents were unable to have full access to the information and the the entire procedure is thus vitiated on account of "non-disclosure of required information."

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh on Friday sought response of the DDA and posted the matter for further hearing on August 31.

The plea filed by National Hawker Federation through Advocates Anupradha Singh Imsori Amri also prays for a stay on the notification, until the matter is disposed of. "The majority of states in India also gave 60 days and many other cities voluntarily have extended public suggestion objections to accommodate more views to make a more holistic plan," it mentioned.

The plea also seeks a direction on the DDA to reach and engage marginalized communities particularly the slum dwellers and street vendors in drafting the Master Plan by setting up desks for inspection, study of draft reports and land use maps at all zonal offices of DDA. In this context it t states,

"The 45 days for public feedback on the draft plan is not enough, particularly as city residents - especially the urban poor, slum dwellers, street vendors are still struggling with fallout from coronavirus with loss of jobs, incomes, health issues and loss of lives. Also, the draft master plan report; a 450 pager lengthy document and the land use plan, are very complex documents that even experts require time to read and understand."

Case Title: National Hawker Federationv. Delhi Development Authority