HC slams DDA for over 30-year delay in allotment of plots

DDA is only making verbal assurances but has not proceeded in making any layout plan: Misra

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday came down heavily on land developing agency DDA for delay of over 30 years in allotting plots to around 25,000 home seekers who had applied in a housing scheme launched in 1981.

The DDA is only making verbal assurances but has not proceeded in making any layout plan. We are not at all satisfied with the submission made by DDA,” a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjeev Khanna said. The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by various applicants including P K Choudhary who alleged that 25,000 people applied for middle-income,low-income and Janta (poor) category plots of the Rohini Residential Scheme,1981.The bench,which was not satisfied with the submissions of the DDA,said the agency must come out with a “positive plan” so to end the wait of applicants.

“It is pathetic to hear that some of the applicants have even died,” it said,adding that the vice chairman of DDA will have to take the responsibility.

“You file an affidavit about your layout plan and specify the reasons as to why they have not got their plots during last three decades,” the court said and asked the DDA to file its response within three weeks. Earlier,DDA told the court that Lt Governor had approved

the layout plans for 16,000 plots and the approval for remaining plots would be granted by the end of March,2010. The applicants,in their petitions,have sought a direction to DDA to furnish relevant records and allot plots immediately to applicants.

The court had earlier also slammed DDA for the delay saying “Is it fair on your (DDA) part? These people are waiting since 1981 for their residential plot.”

Earlier,the bench had questioned as to how DDA could undertake various other housing projects,carry out draw of lots and even hand over many LIG and MIG flats to cooperative group housing societies in Rohini after 1981.

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“Shouldn’t these people on waiting list have been given priority,” the bench asked.

DDA has been told to begin the allotment process immediately and asked Bansal to take instructions in this regard.

The court was informed that DDA did nothing despite court orders for speedy allotment on October 21,2009 and December 16,2009 and was “repeatedly misleading the court”.