“Legal Battle Unfolds: Roshanara Club Seeks Possession, Court Directs DDA to Devise Club Management Scheme”
Title: SH. MANISH AGGARWAL vs. THE ESTATE ORRICER & ORS
Citation: W.P.(C) 14739/2023
Coram: HON’BLE CHIEF JUSTICE & HON’BLE JUSTICE TUSHAR RAO GEDELA
Decided on: 9-11-23
Introduction:
In this case, the petitioner has approached the court seeking various reliefs. The petition challenges the constitutional validity of Section 3 of The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971. It also disputes the sealing and locking of Respondent No. 4 Club’s premises on September 29, 2023, based on an order from September 27, 2023, alleging it to be unconstitutional and violative of fundamental and statutory rights. Additionally, the petitioner seeks to declare the sealing as void ab initio, citing contravention of rule 7 of the mentioned Act. The petition further calls for the quashing of a Draft Policy to run the club, asserting that it goes against the statement made by the Additional Solicitor General in a previous order. The petitioner requests the court to grant any other necessary relief deemed fit in the circumstances of the case.
Facts:
The case involves Roshanara Club Limited (RCL), established in 1922, operating on land allotted under lease deeds by the Secretary of State for India and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The extended lease lapsed on December 31, 2017. RCL sought renewal, but after a series of communications, an eviction notice was issued on April 12, 2023. RCL filed a writ petition challenging the eviction notice with specific reliefs. The learned Single Judge, while noting the challenge to the eviction notice was not maintainable, issued an interim direction restraining coercive action against RCL solely based on the expired lease. The order allowed RCL to pursue statutory remedies against the eviction notice. The DDA appealed, and an order on June 2, 2023, directed the Principal District Judge to decide the appeal without being influenced by the High Court’s order. The case is scheduled for further proceedings on September 13, 2023.
Judgement analysis:
In the given case, the Division Bench of the Court did not grant relief to Roshanara Club. Instead, it directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to devise a scheme for running the club and did not hand over possession to the ex-management of the club. Subsequently, a Special Leave to Appeal (SLP) was filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, seeking restoration of possession to Roshanara Club, but the relief was not granted.
Following these events, a new petition was filed by certain club members. However, the court, considering that it is already dealing with the issue of running the club and that a related writ petition is pending, decided not to grant interim relief in the present petition. The court noted that the DDA is in the process of finalizing a scheme for the smooth running of the club, and accordingly, rejected the prayer for interim relief. The case is scheduled for further proceedings along with LPA No. 497/2023 on December 7, 2023.
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Written By: Gauri Joshi