Delhi HC Directs DDA To Formulate Guidelines For Ramleela Sites Bookings To Prevent Inconvenience Caused To Public

The Delhi High Court has directed Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to formulate comprehensive SOPs/guidelines for booking of Ramleela Sites within five weeks.

The court barred any further offline or online bookings of Ramleela functions on Delhi Development Authority (DDA) grounds until new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or guidelines for bookings are published by the authority.

The Single-Judge Bench of Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju directed: “In the meantime, no online/offline bookings of Respondent No.1/DDA ground/open spaces for Ramleela functions, shall be undertaken by the Respondent No.1/DDA, till the new SOPs guidelines for booking of Ramleela Sites is published by the Respondent No.1/DD,".

This directions came in response to a Writ Petition filed by the Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee, which sought the establishment of guidelines and SOPs to resolve disputes regarding the granting of permission to use sites for organizing Ramleelas in Delhi and the appointment of an independent body to replace the Delhi Dharmik Mahasangh.

Although the DDA presented its policy aimed at "streamlining the procedure for temporary allotment of open spaces/community halls for various functions," the Court noted that it did not mention any “list” prepared by the Delhi Dharmik Mahasangh or indicate that bookings for Ramleela sites would be subject to orders from any other authority.

“In view of the fact that the Respondent No.1/DDA is now making the Ramleela Sites bookings subject to a document which is to be submitted by a third-party organization, it is necessary that the Respondent No.1/DDA puts in place a set of guidelines or an SOP for these bookings, to prevent further situations as had arisen in the year 2023,” the Court said.

The Court passed the following directions:

1. DDA shall formulate comprehensive SOPs/guidelines for booking of Ramleela Sites within five weeks’ from the date of this order and no later than June 25, 2024;

2. In the event, that DDA seeks to rely on the list of the Respondent No.3/DDM or other third party organisation for these bookings, an appropriate clarification would be inserted in the SOPs/guidelines to make all persons aware of such a reliance; and

3. These SOPs/guidelines shall be publicized by DDA.

Acknowledging that the parties had indicated delays in the bookings for Ramleela sites, the Court requested that the DDA adhere to the timeline stipulated in the order. "In view of the fact that the parties submit that the bookings for Ramleela Sites are already delayed, we would request the Respondent No.1/DDA to adhere to the timeline given in this order," it said. 

Accordingly, the Court disposed of the Writ Petiton. 

Cause Title: Shree Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee Regd. & Anr. v. Delhi Development Authority and Ors. [Neutral Citation: 2024: DHC: 4120]

Appearance:-

Petitioner: Advocates Piyush Gupta, Mr. Karan Aggarwal, Himanshu Gupta, Khushboo Rai, Saurav Dogra

Respondent: Advocates Manika Tripathy (Standing Counsel), Ashutosh Kaushik, Dishant Bhati, D.S.Bhardwaz, Mehak Nakra (ASC),  Aditi Kapoor, DevanshSolanki, Shalini Pasricha, Gaurav Seth, Akanksha Mehra

Click here to read/download the Order