GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI vs NAJMA AND ORS.

Judgment text excerpt

$~ * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Reserved on: 19 March 2026 Pronounced on: 6 April 2026 + LPA 349/2021, CM APPL. 33731/2021 GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI .....Appellant Through: Mr. Sameer Vashisht, SC CIVIL, GNCTD, Ms. Harshita Nathrani, Mr. Aryaman Vachher, Advocates versus NAJMA AND ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Gaurav Jain, Adv. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA % JUDGMENT 06.04.2026 C. HARI SHANKAR, J. A. The lis 1. This case requires us to revisit, painfully, a dark period in our history – the COVID-19 pandemic. It throws up, for consideration, the issue of whether an assurance extended by the Chief Minister of Delhi, in a press conference, as a step towards enforcement of the restrictions on public movement of persons put in place in the wake of COVID, is unenforceable in law, absent a formal written policy decision to that effect. LPA 349/2021 Signature Not Verified Page 1 of 50 Digitally Signed By:AJIT KUMAR Signing Date:06.04.2026 12:01:41 2. A learned Single Judge of this Court has answered the issue in the negative, invoking the principles of promissory estoppel and legitimate expectation. The Delhi Government1 is in appeal. B. Facts 3. COVID struck India in March 2020. In the wake of the calamity, the likes of which had not been seen in foreseeable history earlier and, hopefully, would never have to be seen in future, the Government, both at the Centre and State level, put into effect a slew of measures to ensure minimal exposure of the populace to the pandemic and to persuade all to remain indoors as far as possible. As is well known, the Hon’ble Prime Minister himself came on air to prohibit movement of persons outside their homes for the period 25 March 2020 to 31 May 2020. It merits mention, w