UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. vs DEV RAJ GUPTA AND ORS.

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of land use conversion under the Delhi Development Act, 1957, specifically Section 7. The Court held that the conversion of land use from residential to commercial is not automatic and requires a formal application, despite the area being declared a commercial zone in the Master Plan. The Court overturned the High Court's ruling that deemed the conversion statutory and automatic, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to procedural requirements for conversion applications and the payment of conversion charges based on the relevant date of application.