The Delhi High Court has raised concerns regarding the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) policy of allotting public grounds for cultural and religious events, including Ramlila, based on a ‘first come, first served’ principle. The court deemed this approach arbitrary and unsuitable for judicial acceptance, highlighting the need for a more structured and transparent policy.

Justice Amit Mahajan, presiding over the case, noted that while a policy may be easily determinable, it does not necessarily align with constitutional reasonableness or public policy. The court pointed out that such a system could lead to unequal opportunities for applicants, particularly when the criteria and booking processes are not disclosed publicly in advance.

The court’s remarks came during a hearing of a petition filed by the Rays of New Beginning Foundation, which contested the rejection of its application to secure the Chunk-C Ground at Shivaji Place, Raja Garden, for the annual Ramlila Dussehra Mahotsav.

Details of the Case and Foundation’s Plea

The Rays of New Beginning Foundation had previously organised the Ramlila festival at the same location in 2023 and 2024. They argued that according to the DDA’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) dated September 1, societies that had booked Ramlila sites in two out of the last three years should receive preference for future bookings. However, the DDA rejected their application, stating that another organisation had applied for the ground earlier on April 10, while the foundation’s application was submitted on May 27.

The DDA based its decision on the High Level Coordination Committee (HLCC) guidelines, which stipulate that allotments should follow a first-come, first-served policy. The foundation’s challenge centred on the lack of transparency in the application process.

The High Court rejected the DDA’s justification, noting that no public announcement was made to inform potential applicants about the application window or the first-come, first-served nature of the allotments. The court expressed concern that the policy could favour those with privileged access to information, creating an uneven playing field for applicants.

Court Directions for Future Allotments

While the High Court did not grant immediate relief to the foundation, it acknowledged the impending festivities and the impracticality of cancelling the existing allotment. The court directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board to develop comprehensive annual guidelines for the allotment of grounds for Ramlila and similar events.

The court specified that these guidelines should be prospective and not retroactively affect the current policy applicable for the 2026 season. Key directives included the requirement for the competent authority to publish an annual site-allocation notice at least 90 days prior to scheduled events, detailing available grounds, booking dates, eligibility conditions, and evaluation criteria.

Furthermore, the court mandated that all applications for a specific site and booking period should be collected within a predetermined application window. Any unallocated sites should be re-advertised through a supplementary application window open to all eligible applicants. The guidelines also emphasised the need for a common eligibility assessment and operational plans from applicants covering various safety and management aspects.

In cases where multiple eligible applicants compete for the same site, the authorities were instructed to conduct a comparative assessment based on a published scoring matrix. Previous organisers with satisfactory compliance records may receive limited preference, but this should not guarantee automatic allotment, ensuring that all claims are evaluated on merit.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share