EAGLE THEATRES AND ORS. Vs. UOI AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present appeal is filed seeking to impugn the order dated 21.07.2009 of the learned Single Judge in W.P.(C) 1842/2006. The appellant had filed a Writ Petition seeking appropriate writ/direction to respondent No. 2 i.e. Land and Development Officer, Ministry of Urban Development (L&DO) to convert the property of the appellant Eagle Theatres, Plaza Cinema Building, H -Block, Connaught Place, New Delhi -110001 from leasehold to freehold for which an application for conversion had been submitted on 26.2.2004 and for withdrawal of the impugned communication of L&DO dated 2.12.2005.

(2.) The brief facts as stated in the petition by the appellant are that the respondents/Secretary of the State of India in Council granted a lease for the said property on 16.04.1937 to one M/s. Mangal Dass Verma and others. The lease was for a plot measuring 32710 sq.ft. or 0.75 acre or thereabout. The appellants subsequently purchased the leasehold rights.

(3.) In June 2003 the respondents issued a brochure for conversion of leasehold land into freehold land. The conversion scheme was made applicable to commercial and mixed land use properties allotted by L&DO for which ownership rights have been conferred and lease deed executed and registered.