RATTAN KAUR Vs. DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The challenge in this writ petition is to a communication dated 15.7.2002 sent by the Delhi Development Authority ('DDA') to the petitioner stating that her application dated 26.9.1997 for conversion of the plot No. F- 97, Naraina Vihar, New Delhi ("the property") from leasehold to free hold, and her representation dated 18.3.2002 were rejected since she had not deposited misuser charges in the sum of Rs.5,08,387. The petitioner also challenges the communication dated 8.11.2002 sent by the DDA requiring her to deposit the aforementioned misuser charges within 15 days from the date of receipt of that letter failing which appropriate action would be initiated against her.

(2.) The facts leading to the filing of the present petition and set out hereinafter are based on the pleadings of the parties and the record of the DDA which has been perused by this Court. By a lease deed dated 23.3.1968 the property in question was leased by the DDA to one Shri Dwarka Nath. The petitioner's late husband Shri Sohan Singh is stated to have purchased the property from Shri Dwarka Nath some time in 1974. It appears that for the first time on 11.10.1974 an inspection was carried out in the locality. The DDA found that the one room in the property was being used for running a typing institute named as "Modern Commercial College." An FIR was lodged on the same day by the DDA through its Prosecution Branch. Notice was issued by the DDA to Shri Dwarka Nath on 28.8.1975 asking him to discontinue the misuse within a period of 15 days. The DDA record shows that the said notice was received on behalf of Shri Dwarka Nath by Shri Sohan Singh, the husband of the petitioner on 28.8.1975. In reply to the notice on 11.9.1975 a reply signed on behalf of Shri Dwarka Nath by Shri Sohan Singh was sent to the DDA stating the premises had been allotted to "Shri Resham Singh" for residential purposes. The said reply thereafter reads:

(3.) The only note on the DDA's file is the one dated 12.3.1975 proposing that a show cause notice be issued to Shri Dwarka Nath. There is no other note either in regard to the FIR lodged or the reply to the show cause notice. Given the fact that the next noting in sequence is dated 13.2.1979, it appears that no action was taken by the DDA pursuant to the notice dated 28.8.1975.