$~81 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 9041/2026, CM APPL. 42348/2026 & CM APPL. 42349/2026 NARENDER SINGH DHINGRA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Rajeev Kumar, Mr. Hem Kumar, Ms. Niharika Mantoo, Mr. Narender Kumar, Advocates. versus GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS. .....Respondents Through: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA O R D E R % 09.07.2026 1. The Petitioner asserts ownership over land forming part of Khasra Nos. 1520 and 1521, corresponding to post-consolidation Kila No. 99/5-6. The said land has since vested in the Gaon Sabha pursuant to proceedings initiated under Section 81 of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954 [“DLR Act”]. It is stated that the proceedings were preceded by a restraint order dated 23rd June, 2013, whereby the SDM, Alipur directed that no further construction or non-agricultural activity be carried out on the land in question. 2. The Petitioner, however, contends that he was never served with notice of the proceedings under Section 81 of the DLR Act and, upon becoming aware thereof, filed an application under Appendix VI Rule 14 of This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 13/07/2026 at 16:15:56 the Delhi Land Reforms Rules read with Order IX Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, seeking recall of the vesting order dated 12th May, 2015. Counsel for the Petitioner submits that the said application, filed on 03rd July, 2018, remains pending till date, thereby precluding the Petitioner from pursuing further remedies in respect of the subject property. He further submits that Village Alipur has since been urbanised pursuant to a notification issued under Section 507(a) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 and, in view of the judgment of the Supreme Court in Mohinder Singh through LRs. and Another v. Narain Singh and Ors.,1 proceedings under the DLR Act cannot continue thereafter. In these circumstances, the Petitioner confines the relief sought in the present petition to a direction to Respondent No. 2/Sub-Divisional Magistrate-cum-Revenue Assistant, Alipur, to decide the pending application dated 03rd July, 2018. 3. Ms. Harshita Nathrani, counsel for the Respondents, controverts the above submissions. She submits that the vesting order itself records due service of notice upon the Petitioner and that the proceedings under Section 81 of the DLR Act, including the vesting of the land, stood concluded prior to its urbanisation. The Petitioner, despite the same, did not take timely steps to assail the vesting order. She further submits that, in view of the subsequent change in the status of the land, the Petitioner's remedy, if any, now lies before the competent Civil Court and, therefore, a decision on the pending recall application would serve no useful purpose. 4. In response, counsel for the Petitioner submits that, irrespective of the merits of the rival contentions, the application filed by the Petitioner remains pending before Respondent No. 2 and a decision thereon is necessary to 1 2023 SCC OnLine SC 261. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 13/07/2026 at 16:15:56 enable him to avail such further remedies as may be available in law. 5. Considering the aforesaid and the limited nature of the relief pressed, this Court, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the rival contentions, directs Respondent No. 2 to decide the Petitioner’s application dated 03rd July, 2018 within a period of four weeks from today. Respondent No. 2 shall take a decision thereon in accordance with law, having regard to the present status of the land and the applicable legal position, including the judgments of the Supreme Court on the issue. All rights and contentions of the parties are left open. In the event the decision is adverse to the Petitioner, he shall be at liberty to avail appropriate remedies in accordance with law. 6. With the above directions, the petition is disposed of, along with pending application(s). SANJEEV NARULA, J JULY 9, 2026/hc This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 13/07/2026 at 16:15:56