Ravinder Kumar Goel vs Delhi Development Authority

Court
Delhi High Court

$~7
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
# CNR No. DLHC010752622024

Date of decision: 18.08.2026
+ W.P.(C) 15211/2024
RAVINDER KUMAR GOEL
.....Petitioner
Through: Mr Dilip Singh, Ms Maahi Singh,
Adv.
versus
DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
.....Respondent
Through: Ms. Nandadevi Deka, Ms. Saiqa
Dawood, Advs.

CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH


: JASMEET SINGH, J ( ORAL )


1. This is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India seeking the following prayer(s):-
“A. To issue a writ of mandamus or order/direction to
Respondent for conversion from the lease hold to free hold
of the Shop No.16/6, Naraina Industrial Area, New Delhi
(hereinafter referred as the Shop), in time bound
manner....”
2. The brief facts of the case are that the respondent/DDA allotted the
shop bearing No. 16/6, Naraina Industrial Area, New Delhi to one Mr.
Brahm Nand vide letter dated 21.08.1986 and Rs. 77,400 was paid as
consideration for the same by Mr. Brahm Nand.
Signed By:ANSH
SRIVASTAVA
Signing Date:29.08.2026
18:05
W.P.(C) 15211/2024 Page 1 of 6

3. The petitioner purchased the property through a registered Power of
Attorney, Agreement to Sale dated 30.06.1993, executed by the
previous owner, one Mr. Manjit Singh. Since then the petitioner has
been in possession and earning his livelihood from the said shop.
4. Pursuant thereto, the petitioner made an application in December 2021
for conversion of the shop from leasehold to freehold as per the scheme
of the respondent/DDA and deposited the requisite conversion charges
of Rs. 2,10,045/-. However, since the property was not converted
despite making the requisite payment and taking several steps, the
petitioner has filed the present petition.
5. A perusal of the rejection email sent by the respondent shows that the
respondent has rejected the conversion on the basis of a legal opinion.
The rejection email reads as under:-

Signed By:ANSH
SRIVASTAVA
Signing Date:29.08.2026
18:05
W.P.(C) 15211/2024 Page 2 of 6

6. The legal opinion on the basis of which the aforesaid rejection email is
issued is annexed with the counter-affidavit filed by the
respondent/DDA, but the copy of the counter-affidavit placed on record
does not contain the same herein. Hence, another copy of the counter-
affidavit has been handed over in Court today, which is taken on
record. The said legal opinion contain therein reads as under:-
“In response to the Query at Sr. no. 1 department has
drawn a reference to the Minutes of Meeting dated
04.12.2015. The said minutes are conditional in nature.
Further, it is also mentioned in the note that the final
charges were calculated after the approval of the F.M.,
DDA but no further demand was raised and the file was
kept pending in the record room without taking further
action. In peculiar circumstances of the present case, I
do not deem it a fit case to be proceeded with. However,
the department may take a final decision in the matter at
administrative level.”
7. A perusal of the legal opinion as reproduced above shows that it is as
cryptic as is the rejection email issued by the respondent to the
petitioner. The only reason for the rejection of conversion of property
from leasehold to freehold was that though final charges were
calculated, no demand was raised, therefore, in peculiar facts, it was
deemed a fit case not to be proceeded with the conversion request.
8. I am of the view that the reasoning adopted in the rejection email and
the accompanying legal opinion, is bereft of any rules, regulations,
guidelines and circulars of the respondent.
Signed By:ANSH
SRIVASTAVA
Signing Date:29.08.2026
18:05
W.P.(C) 15211/2024 Page 3 of 6

9. For the said reasons, respondent cannot proceed with rejection of
application for conversion without any substantial backing of
applicable rules, regulations or law. Hence, I am of the view that the
said rejection is misconceived.
10. Ms. Deka, learned counsel for the respondent relies upon the policy
titled Scheme of Conversion From Leasehold System into Freehold (for
Commercial/Industrial Plots/DDA Build up Shops), governing
conversion of leasehold to freehold properties and states that the
petitioner is also required to submit additional documents, which reads
as under:-
“DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED
The applicant shall be required to furnish the following
documents alongwith the application form:-
(a) Undertaking in prescribed format duly attested by
Notary Public/First Class Magistrate. (Annexure "D")
(b) Affidavit in prescribed format duly attested by Notary
Public/First Class Magistrate. (Annexure "E")
(c) Indemnity Bond(s) in prescribed format(s) duly attested
by Notary Public/First Class Magistrate (Annexure "F" and
"FF")
(d) Copy of POA(s) alongwith copy of Sale Agreement
(Where application is made by attorney), duly attested by
Notary Public/Gazetted Officer.
(e) Copy of Completion Certificate/"D" Form duly attested
by Notary Public/Gazetted Officer. (Not applicable in case
of DDA Built-up Shops/Commercial Flats).
Signed By:ANSH
SRIVASTAVA
Signing Date:29.08.2026
18:05
W.P.(C) 15211/2024 Page 4 of 6

(f) Proof of Physical Possession by the person in whose
name the conversion is sought viz. copy of Possession Letter
or Slip/House Tax Receipt/Ration Card/Passport/Driving
Licence/ Identify Card etc. duly attested by Notary
Public/Gazetted Officer.
(g) 4 Attested Passport size photographs and 4 attested
specimen signatures of the person in whose favour the
conversion is sought duly attested by a Gazetted
Officers/Notary Public as per Annexure "G" (If the
applicant is allottee/sub-lessee/lessee, then his/her
photograph and in case of applicant being an attorney,
photographs of person named in column "3" of the
application form are required to be submitted.
(h) Copy of lease deed/sub-lease deed/conveyance
deed/allotment letter/demand letter duly attested by Notary
Public/Gazetted Officer.
(i) Copy of N.O.C. (s) form the mortgagee(s) duly attested
by Notary Public/Gazetted Officer.
(j) Information regarding payment details of Ground Rent
(Annexure "H")”
11. For the said reasons, the petition is allowed and the rejection email
annexed as Annexure P-1 with the petition, is hereby set aside.
12. Consequently, on submission of the documents mentioned above, the
respondent/DDA shall proceed to convert the property bearing shop
No. 16/6, Naraina Industrial Area, New Delhi from leasehold to
freehold in accordance with extant rules, regulations and bye-laws. The
Signed By:ANSH
SRIVASTAVA
Signing Date:29.08.2026
18:05
W.P.(C) 15211/2024 Page 5 of 6

needful shall be done expeditiously.
13. Accordingly, the petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms.





JASMEET SINGH, J
AUGUST 18, 2026 / (MS)
(Corrected and released on 25.08.2026)

Signed By:ANSH
SRIVASTAVA
Signing Date:29.08.2026
18:05
W.P.(C) 15211/2024 Page 6 of 6