Power to stop development
Section 31 of the Delhi Development Act, 1957 deals with power to stop development. Where any development in any area has been commenced in contravention of the master plan or zonal development plan or without the permission, approval or sanction referred to in section 12 or in contravention of any conditions subject to which such permission, approval or sanction has been granted,- The Act came into force on 30 Dec 1957.
1[31. Power to stop development.--(1) Where any development in any area has been commenced in contravention of the master plan or zonal development plan or without the permission, approval or sanction referred to in section 12 or in contravention of any conditions subject to which such permission, approval or sanction has been granted,--
(i) in relation to a development area, the Authority or any officer of the Authority empowered by it in this behalf,
(ii) in relation to any other area within the local limits of a local authority, the competent authority thereof,
may, in addition to any prosecution that may be instituted under this Act, make an order requiring the development to be discontinued on and from the date of the service of the order, and such order shall be complied with accordingly.
(2) Where such development is not discontinued in pursuance of the order under sub-section (1), the Authority or the officer of the Authority or the competent authority, as the case may be, may require any police officer to remove the person by whom the development has been commenced and all his assistants and workmen from the place of development 2[or to seize any construction material, tool, machinery, scaffolding or other things used in such development] within such time as may be specified in the requisition and such police officer shall comply with the requisition accordingly.
2[(2A) Any of the things caused to be seized by the Authority or the officer of the Authority or the competent authority, as the case may be, under sub-section (2) shall, unless the owner thereof turns up to take back such things and pays to the Authority, the officer of the Authority or the competent authority, as the case may be, the charges for the removal or storage of such things, be disposed of by it or him by public auction or in such other manner and within such time as the Authority, the officer of the Authority or the competent authority thinks fit.
(2B) The charges for the removal and storage of the things sold under sub-section (2A) shall be paid out of the proceeds of the sale thereof and the balance, if any, shall be paid to the owner of the things sold on a claim being made therefor within a period of one year from the date of sale, and if no such claim is made within the said period, shall be credited to the fund of the Authority or the competent authority, as the case may be.]
(3) If any development in an area other than a development area has been commenced in contravention of the master plan or zonal development plan or without the approval or sanction referred to in section 12 or in contravention of any conditions subject to which such approval or sanction has been granted and the competent authority has failed to make an order under sub-section (1) or, as the case may be, a requisition under sub-section (2), within the time that may be specified in this behalf by the 3[Lieutenant Governor] of the 4[National Capital Territory of Delhi], the 3[Lieutenant Governor] may, after observing such procedure as may be prescribed by rules made in this behalf, direct any officer to make the order or requisition, as the case may be, and that officer shall be bound to carry out such direction and the order or requisition made by him in pursuance of the direction shall be complied with accordingly.
(4) After the requisition under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) has been complied with, the Authority or the competent authority or the officer to whom the direction was issued by the 3[Lieutenant Governor] under sub-section (3), as the case may be, may depute by a written order a police officer or an officer or employee of the Authority or local authority concerned to watch the place in order to ensure that the development is not continued.
(5) Any person failing to comply with an order under sub-section (1) or, as the case may be, under sub-section (3), shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees for every day during which the non-compliance continues after the service of the order.
(6) No compensation shall be claimable by any person for any damage which he may sustain in consequence of the removal of any development under section 30 or the discontinuance of the development under this section.
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(8) The provisions of this section shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other provision relating to stoppage of building operations contained in any other law for the time being in force.]
Section 31, The Delhi Development Act, 1957 (Act 61 of 1957).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… In relation to the grievance made by the petitioner with regard to the communication on the part of the DDA against respondent no.6, I direct the DDA to examine the grievances made by the petitioner in the light of Sections 14, 29, 30 and 31 of the Delhi Development Act and take a decision thereon which shall be communicated in writing to the petitioner. The concerned statutory authorities, namely the CPCB, the State Pollution Control Board, the SDM and the DDA shall take their respective decisions on merits, and without in any way being influenced by …
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… The basement which was got sanctioned and approved without partitions was partitioned into different independent units and rolling shutters were provided. Additional coverage was also effected on the mezzanine floor. - 8. On 15.10.1993, DDA issued a show cause notice under Section 31(1) and 31(A) of the Delhi Development Act 1957 informing respondent No.2 that after obtaining a completion certificate it had caused structural alterations to be effected in the property without obtaining the requisite permission from WP(C) 16512-04 9 of 23 (10) DDA. Respondent No.2 was called upon to show cause as to why …
Made under this section, and citing it
4 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 31
What does Section 31 of the Delhi Development Act deal with?
Section 31 of the Delhi Development Act is headed "Power to stop development". [31. Power to stop development.--(1) Where any development in any area has been commenced in contravention of the master plan or zonal development plan or without the permission, approval or sanction referred to in section 12 or in contravention of any conditions subject to which such permission, ap
How do I find court cases under Section 31 of the Delhi Development Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Delhi Development Act 1957 31, section 31 Delhi Development Act 1957, section 31 of the Delhi Development Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 31 of the Delhi Development Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 12 (Declaration of development areas and development of land in those and other areas), section 30 (Order of demolition of building), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 6 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. 4 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently Delhi Development Authority (Ceiling of Development) Rules, 1986 (1986), then Delhi Development Authority (Form of Appeal) Rules, 1986 (1986).
When did Section 31 of the Delhi Development Act come into force?
Section 31 of the Delhi Development Act, cited as Delhi Development Act 1957 31, came into force on 30 Dec 1957, having been enacted on 27 Dec 1957. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 3. The Delhi Development Authority632 words
- 56. Power to make rules617 words
- 30. Order of demolition of building596 words
- 43. Service of notices, etc557 words
- 60. Repeal, etc., and savings462 words
- 8. Zonal development plans429 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.