Lok Sabha Question No. 3319 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-01
Subject: Cases against DDA
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: RADHESHYAM BISWAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3319 TO BE ANSWERED ON JANUARY 01, 2019

## 'CASES AGAINST DDA'

No.  3319

SHRI RADHESHYAM BISWAS:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of cases pertaining to DDA pending in the Supreme Court, High Court and Lower Courts, court-wise along with the number of cases among them pending since 2001;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  made  efforts  to  find  out  the reasons for matters relating to DDA ending up in Courts;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the expenditure incurred by DDA on these cases during the last three years and the current year; and
- (e) the  action  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  for  early disposal of these cases?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE

MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

(SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

(a): Delhi  Development  Authority  (DDA)  has  intimated  following details of total number of court cases pending in different courts:

| Name of Court                                     | Total No. of pending cases as on 30.11.2018   |   Number of cases pending since 01.01.2001 |
|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Supreme Court                                     | 1,220                                         |                                       1212 |
| High Court                                        | 8,037                                         |                                       6862 |
| Lower Courts including all Legal Forums/Tribunals | 11,574                                        |                                      10520 |
| Total                                             | 20,831                                        |                                      18594 |

- (b) & (c): Broadly,  various  reasons  for  matters  relating  to  the  DDA ending up in Courts are as follows:
- (i) Delay in allotment, mutation and conversion of properties into freehold.
- (ii) Demand/recovery  of  unearned  increase,  composition  fee  and misuse charges etc.
- (iii) Cancellation of lease/ allotment on account of violation of terms and conditions of lease/ allotment letter.
- (iv) Land  acquisition  cases  and  cases  related  to  enhancement  of compensation as well as execution for recovery of compensation.
- (v) Action by DDA against encroachment on Government land and unauthorized constructions.
- (vi) Arbitration and Service matters.
- (vii) Public Interest Litigation and impleadment of DDA as proforma party, etc.

## (d): DDA has intimated following details of expenditure incurred on these cases during the last three years and current year:

| Year                           |   Legal Fee paid (figures ₹ in lakhs) |
|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 2015-16                        |                                525.84 |
| 2016-17                        |                                573.42 |
| 2017-18                        |                                582.82 |
| 2018-19 (up to December, 2018) |                                787.92 |

- (e): DDA has intimated that it has taken following action for early disposal of these cases:
- (i) Timelines  for  processing  allotment,  mutation  and  conversion and  formalities  attached  to  them  have  been  freezed  and  put up in  public  domain.  The  officers  meet  and  resolve  public grievances  in  this  regard  in  public  hearing.  Nagrik  Suvidha Kendras  at  various  locations  have  been  opened  to  facilitate these functions for convenience of public.
- (ii) Policies  have  been  rationalized  in  public  interest  to  make  it convenient for the public.

The policies like renewal of expired leases to facilitate conversion  from  leasehold  to  freehold  and  putting  the  entire data of cancelled leases and allotment in public domain aim at making  the  public  aware  about  the  status  of  their  leasehold rights  and  take  proper  remedial  measures  to  remove  the breaches and apply for restoration.  DDA has also constituted in-house Committee to settle the cases by utilizing the alternate dispute resolution process to minimize the litigation.

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