Harmeet Singh v. Municipal Corporation Of Delhi

$~98 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 3458/2026 HARMEET SINGH .....Petitioner Through:

In person.

versus MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI .....Respondent Through:

Mr.Vikas Chopra, S.C.

with Mr.Neeraj Kumar, Ms.Khushi, Advs for MCD.

CORAM:

HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA

O R D E R

% 18.03.2026 1.

Heard the petitioner, who appears in person and the learned counsel representing the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). 2.

The instant public interest litigation petition has been filed with the following prayers:- "A. Direct the Respondent, namely the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, to place on record the administrative approvals, circulars, policy decisions, and file notings pursuant to which garbage collection / user collection charges were initially presented as mandatory while remitting property tax dues for the Financial Year 2025-2026 and were subsequently rendered optional; B. Direct the Respondent to disclose the total quantum of garbage collection / user collection charges collected from property tax payers during the period when such charges were reflected as mandatory through the property tax payment system; The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

C. Direct the Respondent to frame, publish, and implement a clear and transparent mechanism for refund or adjustment of the amounts collected from property tax payers when the said charges were presented as mandatory;

D. Direct the Respondent to refund the amounts so collected from property tax payers who remitted the said charges under the impression that the same were mandatory, along with applicable bank interest for the period during which such amounts have remained with the Respondent;

E. Direct the concerned Respondents to publicly apologise to the public at large by expressly acknowledging their culpable neglect, overall inaction and dereliction of statutory duty which culminated to the deteriorated state of affairs of the present matter and, upen obtaining the Petitioner's approval of the precise contents of such apology, to cause its publication on their official website, all official social media platforms and in two national and two local daily newspapers within fifteen days from the date on which this Hon'ble Court adjudicates the present petition or passes any interim order consonant with the circumstances herein; F. Pass such other and further orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the present matter."

3.

When we perused the prayers made in the petition along with the prayers made by the petitioner in the representation dated 16.12.2025 as is contained in Annexure P-1 appended to the writ petition, what we find is that except prayer 'D', it is difficult to conceive as to how directions sought by the petitioner by way of remaining prayers can be given by the Court. 4.

At this stage, the petitioner states that he presses only prayer 'D', which seeks a direction to the respondents to refund the amount collected from the property tax payers, who remitted the 'Garbage Collection The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

Charges', which initially were mandatory and later on has been made optional.

5.

For the said purpose, let an appropriately worded representation taking appropriate grounds for such prayer be made by the petitioner to the respondent within fortnight. In case, such a representation is made, the same shall be considered and decided by the appropriate authority of the MCD in accordance with law and any other Executive instructions, directions, rules or regulations. The decision of the respondent under this order shall be taken within a period of two months from the date it is presented before the appropriate authority of the MCD.

6.

The petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms. DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ TEJAS KARIA, J MARCH 18, 2026 S.Rawat The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.