Delhi Land Pooling And Green Development Policies: SC Issues Notice On PIL Seeking Implementation

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation filed for implementation of Land Pooling and Green Development policies in New Delhi.

The bench of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has issued notice to the Lieutenant Governor of the NCT Delhi and the Vice Chairman of the DDA amongst other relevant authorities in the PIL filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, on behalf of the Delhi Dehat Vikas Manch, a registered society having more than 700 members, across the capital city committed to the upliftment of the farmer community and the sustainable development of rural areas within the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

The petition seeks urgent implementation of the Land Pooling Policy and Green Development Area (GDA) Policy, earlier LDRA, in New Delhi as outlined in the Master Plan 2021 and Draft Master Plan 2041 in a time bound manner. The petition further calls for the establishment of an expert committee to oversee the implementation of these policies. The proposed committee would include representatives from all relevant stakeholders, including the Petitioner Society. The petition emphasizes the need for a formal direction to implement the Draft Master Plan 2041, which integrates the Land Pooling Policy and the GDA Policy.

The PIL states that the Land Pooling Policy, introduced in Chapter 19 of the Master Plan 2021, has faced delays and bureaucratic hurdles since its introduction for the first time in the year 2013. This policy is critical for converting rural land into urban spaces in a structured manner while ensuring the provision of adequate infrastructure. The GDA Policy aims to maintain ecological balance by safeguarding and developing green spaces, thereby addressing the environmental degradation and infrastructural vulnerabilities exposed during recent calamities like the unprecedented floods in July 2023 and July 2024. 

“Despite the formalization of these policies, the lack of proper implementation has led to unauthorized colonies and unplanned urban sprawl, contributing to the worsening air quality and increased risk of flooding in Delhi”, states the petition.

The PIL cites various failures and delays by authorities in implementing these policies, resulting in ecological degradation and infrastructural deficiencies.
- It highlights the violation of the Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 48A, which mandates the State to protect and improve the environment.
- The petition also connects the policies to India’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 11, which focuses on making cities safe, resilient, and sustainable.

The Petitioner society is represented by Mr. Ashwarya Sinha, Advocate on Record, and Mr. Govind Rishi, Advocate.

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