The Delhi High Court recently directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to promptly and amicably resolve its long-standing disputes.

The single-headed bench of Justice Dharmesh Sharma has instructed each lawyer on the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) panel in the Delhi High Court to identify at least 10 cases and streamline the issues within those cases. The identified issues should focus on matters such as property mutation or demarcation, conversion from leasehold to freehold, flat allotment, and unauthorized constructions or deviations from the sanctioned plan.

Further, the Bench directed the Vice Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to form a review committee.

The Court instructed DDA panel counsel to submit their recommendations in a sealed cover to the review committee, which will seek inputs from officials of various departments, scrutinize the submissions, and consider resolving matters through Lok Adalats or the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre.

The Court also emphasized that the review committee should meet regularly, either on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

 “As a punishment in these contempt proceedings, the contemnor is directed to constitute a Review Committee by September 4, 2024. The Committee shall invite inputs from Panel Lawyers by September 7, 2024, and shall hold daily meetings for at least one hour from September 9, 2024. The Committee must then submit a final proposal for amicable dispute resolution, case-wise, to the Secretary, Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee, by September 12, 2024. Upon submission, the matters may be taken up, after notice to the parties, in the ensuing Lok Adalat on September 14, 2024. The Review Committee meetings be held on a regular basis every week, after 14th September, 2024,” the Court said.

The Court further stated that if referral to Lok Adalat is not feasible, ongoing negotiations lead to a spillover of cases, or if notices to the concerned parties or litigants are lacking, the review committee may refer these matters for amicable resolution to the judge-in-charge of the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre.

 “A balance sheet shall be compiled at the end of each successive month to analyze the referrals and settlements reached between parties.,” the Court ordered.

Advocates Dilip Singh and R Karthik appeared for Bimla Sachdev who had filed the contempt of court petition.

Senior Advocate Arvind Varma along with advocates Shobhana Takiar, Smridihi Sharma and Kuljeet Singh represented the DDA.

Case Title: Bimla Sachdev v Subur & Anr