ARTI RANI vs NORTH DELHI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

Judgment text excerpt

$~ * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Reserved on: 12 January 2026 Pronounced on: 14 January 2026 + LPA 514/2019 & CM APPL. 54741/2019 ARTI RANI .....Appellant Through: Mr. Chetan Lokur and Mr. Vaibhav Kaul, Advocates. versus NORTH DELHI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION .....Respondent Through: Ms. Namrata Mukin, SC with Ms. Niharika Singh and Ms. Sakshi Saxena, Advocates. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA JUDGMENT % 14.01.2026 C. HARI SHANKAR, J. 1. This Letters Patent Appeal assails judgment dated 15 July 2019 passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court in WP (C) 4899/20191. The dispute emanates from a license issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi2, the predecessor- and successor-in-interest of the respondent North Delhi Municipal Corporation3, consequent on 1 Arti Rani v. North Delhi Municipal Corproation 2 “MCD”, hereinafter 3 “the North DMC” hereinafter Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:AJIT KUMAR LPA 514/2019 Signing Date:14.01.2026 Page 1 of 15 11:01:03 tenders invited by the MCD on 26 March 1997, for operating a shop bearing Hall X-10 I, Municipal Market, Karol Bagh4. A License Deed dated 6 October 1997 was executed between the MCD and the appellant, allowing the appellant to run the shop at a monthly license fee of ₹ 53,020/- for a period of 5 years. On 10 February 2003, license was renewed for a further period of 5 years at 100% enhancement of the license fee i.e., at a monthly license fee of ₹ 1,06,040/-. 2. On 28 January 2009, the MCD cancelled the license of the appellant in respect of the shop and further asserted that outstanding dues of ₹ 79,85,994/- were required to be paid by the appellant for the period from 2005 to 2009. 3. Proceedings were also instituted against the appellant under the P