Civic survey of, and master plan for, Delhi
Section 7 of the Delhi Development Act, 1957 deals with civic survey of, and master plan for, Delhi. The Authority shall, as soon as may be, carry out a civic survey of, and prepare a master plan for, Delhi. The Act came into force on 30 Dec 1957.
(1) The Authority shall, as soon as may be, carry out a civic survey of, and prepare a master plan for, Delhi.
(2) The master plan shall--
(a) define the various zones into which Delhi may be divided for the purposes of development and indicate the manner in which the land in each zone is proposed to be used (whether by the carrying out thereon of development or otherwise) and the stages by which any such development shall be carried out; and
(b) serve as a basic pattern of frame-work within which the zonal development plans of the various zones may be prepared.
1[(3) The master plan may provide for any other matter which is necessary for the proper development of Delhi.]
Section 7, The Delhi Development Act, 1957 (Act 61 of 1957).
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Ajit Singh & Anr. v. Delhi Development Authority & Ors.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Delhi HC Nandrajog J, WP(C) 10499/2004, Final Order order-1.pdf (document "DATE OF DECISION 5-09-2005" matches index — date-cache FP overridden). Petitioners challenged carving small plots on "institutional housing" pocket for slum relocation. Court mapped Master Plan → Zonal Plan → Layout hierarchy under DDA Act. Quoted s.11 operation-of-plan rule and held Master/Zonal Plans are statutory; layout plans are micro-level and need not amend ZDP if use unchanged. Petition dismissed; no promissory estoppel against public-interest layout change within residential designation.
On this section: Applied s.7 civic survey/master plan duty as the apex statutory planning instrument defining zones and land-use framework.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 7
What have the courts held on Section 7 of the Delhi Development Act?
Ajit Singh & Anr. v. Delhi Development Authority & Ors. (05 Sep 2005) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Applied s.7 civic survey/master plan duty as the apex statutory planning instrument defining zones and land-use framework.
How do I find court cases under Section 7 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 7, section 7 Delhi Development Act 1957, section 7 of the Delhi Development Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Ajit Singh & Anr. v. Delhi Development Authority & Ors. (05 Sep 2005).
When did Section 7 of the Delhi Development Act come into force?
Section 7 of the Delhi Development Act, cited as Delhi Development Act 1957 7, 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
- 31. Power to stop development778 words
- 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
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 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.