The Delhi High Court has held that merely because the applicant has been organising Chhath Puja at a particular location for several years, the same cannot constitute a ground for permitting the use of a green area.

The applicant approached the High Court seeking permission to organise Chhath Puja (Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya) at Chintoo Park, Naraina Village, Division DPD-5, Zone Dwarka, New Delhi.

The Single Bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh held, “The fact that the applicant has been organising the Chhath Puja at the said location for several years, or that the present request is confined to a limited area and period, cannot, by itself, constitute a ground for permitting the use of a green area. The park is being maintained as a green area at the present for the benefit of the public at large.”

Advocate Nitish Kumar Singh represented the Petitioner while Advocate Ravikant Kumar represented the Respondent.

Arguments

The applicant sought permission to organise Chhath Puja, comprising Sandhya Arghya on the evening of November 15, 2026 and Usha Arghya in the early morning of November 16, 2026, over an area of approximately 1,000 sq. m. at Chintoo Park, Naraina Village, New Delhi. It was submitted that the applicant had been organising the said religious observance at the aforesaid location for the past 23 years. The applicant had also undertaken to restore the park to its original condition after the conclusion of the festivities.

The DDA opposed the Petition on the ground that the park is being maintained by the DDA as a green area and permitting the applicant to organise the aforesaid event therein would adversely affect the park and its maintenance.

Reasoning

The Bench took note of the fact that the park is being maintained as a green area at the present for the benefit of the public at large. The Bench also held that permission could not be granted merely on the ground that the applicant had been organising the event for a long time.

The Bench also reiterated that an administrative decision of the Executive or any other body cannot nullify or dilute a judicial order.

Considering that the Government of NCT of Delhi had already earmarked an area at Munak Canal for the purposes of Chhath Puja and had made arrangements, the Bench stated, “In view of the availability of alternative arrangements for conducting Chhath Puja, there is no justification for permitting the use of Chintoo Park for the proposed purpose, particularly when the same is being maintained as a green area.”

The Bench thus dismissed the application.

Cause Title: Lalit Anand v. Govt. Of NCT of Delhi (Case No.:W.P.(C) 36/2026)

Appearance

Petitioner: Advocates Nitish Kumar Singh, Amit Kumar Thakur, Shashank Kumar

Respondent: Advocate Ravikant Kumar

Click here to read/download Order


Delhi High CourtJustice Jasmeet Singh

Tulip Kanth

Assistant Editor

Tulip Kanth is an Assistant Editor at Verdictum having over 5 years of experience in the field of legal journalism and editing. She extensively covers judgments of the Supreme Court, High Courts as well as Tribunals. She has previously worked with a legal publishing website where she oversaw the work of other editors and has also created updates on notifications of different Government Ministries. She holds an English Honours Degree from SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University and has completed her LLB course with specialisation in Corporate Law from Amity University.