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2007 Supreme(Del) 770

High Court Of Delhi
Mukundakam Sharma,Sanjiv Khanna
AMAR NATH - Appellant
Versus
D. D. A - Respondents
Letters Patent Appeal 65 Of 2007
Decided On : 04/17/2007

Advocates Appeared:
R.K.SAINI, SANGEETA CHANDRA

Headnote:Constitution of India, 1950

       Article 226 - Application for allotment of flat by DDA — Cancellation of allotment due to mistaken change in address — Order cancelling the allotment restored by DDA — Delay in issuing demand letter resulting in levy of interest without any fault of petitioner — Direction given that cost of flat may be charged as prevailing at the time of allotment.


SANJIV KHANNA, J.

( 1 ) THE appellant, Mr. Amar Nath is aggrieved by the impugned judgment dated 20th November, 2006 passed by the learned Single Judge dismissing his Writ Petition No. 23135/2005 with liberty to the appellant to pay the amount demanded by the respondent-Delhi Development Authority (hereinafter referred to as DDA, for short) within two weeks with 10% interest on the unpaid amount.

( 2 ) THE office file of Delhi Development Authority makes an interesting reading. The appellant is a registrant under the Scheme called "registration scheme of New Pattern", 1979 for allotment of MIG Flat. The appellant deposited Rs. 4500/- with the respondent in 1979. In September, 1998 after nearly twenty years, a flat in Phase-II, Dwarka was allotted to him. No communication was sent by the respondent to the appellant for nearly eleven months. The letter of allotment was posted in August,1999. This allotment was under the hire-purchase scheme which did not require lump sum payment but payment in installments. The file shows that this letter of allotment was required to be sent to 266a, Bagh Kare Khan, Kishan Ganj new Delhi-110007. e. , the address mentioned by the appellant on the application form. However, this address was scored off and the letter was sent to F-65, Kamla Nagar, Delhi-7. The said address was written by hand. There is no paper on record to show that the appellant had furnished any information for change of address. This letter came back undelivered. Accordingly, as per office noting dated 10th October, 2000, the respondent-Delhi Development Authority cancelled the allotment.

( 3 ) IN the public hearing held on 7th July, 2004, the appellant protested against the cancellation. He pointed out that the letter was sent to a wrong address and not at the address given by him. It appears that the respondent was initially confused whether or not the appellant had asked for change of address. Change in address was recorded* in the registration register maintained by the respondent. This was disputed by Mr. Amar Nath- the appellant. He stated that he had never changed his address and had been living at the same address. e. , house No. 266a, Bagh Kare Khan, Kishan ganj, New Delhi since 1979. He also filed documents in support. Commissioner (Housing) in one of his office noting had recorded that it was not clear on what basis the address was changed and, why in the registration register change in the address was made without any document.

( 4 ) AFTER detailed examination, on 26th April, 2005, Commissioner (Housing) accepted the contention of the appellant that he had never informed about change of address and he had been residing at the address given in the registration application for the last 40 years. He also recorded that there was no request for change of address available in the file. The registration register was checked and it was found that someone had wrongly noted the new address by mistake. Reason for change of address was not mentioned in the register. Thereafter, the next noting on the file dated 27th April, 2005 has been recorded as under:- "why cannot it be covered under the wrong address policy as the entire fault of sending D. L. at wrong address is of Delhi Development Authority. "

( 5 ) THIS noting was thereafter approved and it was directed that the appellant's name be included in the next draw of flats.

( 6 ) THE respondent has a "wrong address policy", when due to fault of the respondent, an allotment letter is sent at a wrong address. In such cases the registrant is charged the original cost plus interest from the date of original allotment till the date of fresh allotment or the present cost of the flat, whichever is less.

( 7 ) IN the draw of lots held on 29th June, 2005 the appellant was successful and he was allotted Flat No. 741, Second Floor, Sector 17, Pocket a, Dwarka.

( 8 ) ALLOTMENT letter was issued to the appellant on 31st October, 2005 specifying that the appellant was liable to pay























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