Delhi High Court rejects AAI plea to cancel land allotment to Samajwadi Party, JDU, MPF

The Delhi High Court recently refused to re-allot Airports Authority of India (AAI) the land in South Delhi’s Vasant Vihar where offices of Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (United) and Mizo Peace Foundation stand today [Airports Authority of India Vs Union Of India & Ors]..A Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta noted that the 2.05 acres of land was allotted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in 1985 and subsequently taken over by the AAI to build homes for its officials. No construction was done by AAI till 2002 when the Central government cancelled the allotment. Later, portions of the land were given to political parties to set up their offices.The Court observed that the political parties have established their offices now, and they cannot be disturbed. .“This Court is of the opinion that much water has flown since the cancellation of the allotment of Vasant Vihar land. The political parties having already been allotted land for their party offices and therefore, currently cannot be disturbed as the writ petition filed by the Appellant had already been dismissed,” the Court stated.The subsequent allotment in favour of the political parties cannot be disturbed now, the Bench made it clear.“Since the original land has already been allotted to the political parties, this Court is of the opinion that the clock cannot be put back on the same. The allotment in favour of the political parties cannot now be disturbed, and accordingly, the re-allotment of the Vasant Vihar land is not possible in the opinion of this Court,” the Court stated. .Samajwadi Party was allotted one acre while Janta Dal (United) and Mizo Peace Foundation were given half an acre each. The Court held that the political parties shall continue to retain their allotments as per the respective allotment conditions. “Accordingly, in so far as the said prayer for re-allotment of the Vasant Vihar land is concerned, the same is not acceded to. The political parties shall continue to retain their allotments as per the respective allotment conditions,” the Court stated. .However, the Bench noted that AAI’s request for an alternate piece of land is reasonable. Noting that the government has considered this proposal but failed to fructify it, the Court ordered a high-level meeting between the Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Chairman of AAI. “The said meeting shall be held in the office of the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Let the meeting be held on or before 15th April 2025. If the alternate land is not a feasible proposition, then the flats constructed by the NBCC can be considered for allotment, as per AAI’s requirement, on payment of discounted charges by the AAI of only the cost of construction, maintenance etc., Such an approach may also resolve this long pending dispute between two Government departments, in the interest of employees of AAI as well,” the Court said. .Senior Advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha with advocates Ashwarya Sinha, Aditya Malhotra and Naveen Soni appeared for AAI.Advocates Shivam Singh and Ishwar Singh appeared for JD(U)..[Read Order]