(1.) These three appeals are filed by the Union of India the Delhi Development Authority and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi respectively against the same judgment/order dated 1st August, 2001 rendered by the learned Single Judge in CWP No. 923/97 which was filed by the unofficial respondents herein.
(2.) The unofficial respondents herein had filed the aforesaid writ petition herein direction was sought to the appellants herein (official respondents) to decide representations dated 4th November, 1996, 6th December, 1996 and 24th January, 1997 of the respondents for releasing from acquisition the lands situated in Village Okhla Mahigiran, Mehrauli. They also made a prayer to the effect that the appellants herein should be directed to implement the National Housing Policy 1994 ('NHP-94' for short) as adopted by both the Houses of Parliament. However, during the pendency of the writ petition, certain significant developments took place. A decision was taken by the then Union Minister for Urban Development on 13th April, 1999 whereby it was decided to denotify the lands of the official respondents. Although a draft denotification was prepared, the same was not published in official gazette. In the meantime, another Union Minister succeeded and he reversed the earlier noting on 6th July, 1999 taking the decision that the land in question was not required to be denotified. By reason of the impugned judgment, the learned Single Judge has, inter alia, held that the subsequent noting dated 16th July, 1999 reversing the earlier noting dated 13th April, 1999 was not valid and quashed the same. Various other incidental issues are decided in the process leading to this noting.
(3.) In order to appreciate the controversy involved, in the first instance it would be appropriate to take stock of the relevant facts.