Delhi High Court Directs DDA To Process Pending Leasehold-To-Freehold Conversion Applications

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to process the pending applications for conversion of properties from leasehold to freehold. The high court has given DDA a timeline of two months for the same. This announcement provides relief to property owners awaiting a decision on the status of their property. The court’s direction comes amid concerns over the prolonged delay in processing conversion applications and the continued non-functioning of the DDA’s online IDLI portal.

The portal has been unavailable since January 2, 2026, thereby preventing property owners from submitting fresh applications for conversion. A Bench comprising Justice Pratibha M Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan said that authorities must address the issue without any further delay. Cases where property owners have already submitted applications and paid the applicable conversion charges are to be taken on a priority basis.

According to PTI report, a total of 1,373 applications for conversion were filed between 2020 and 2026 which are currently pending with DDA. The authority has already collected Rs 155.06 crore in conversion charges from applicants. Of the total pending cases, 308 applications have received approval, but the corresponding conveyance deeds have not yet been executed. The high court noted that the delays have created considerable difficulties for residents seeking to establish clear and freehold ownership of their properties.

The Bench also directed that pending applications be processed according to the prevailing policy. For applications filed in the future, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the DDA may formulate a new policy governing the conversion process. The court also expressed its dissatisfaction with the pace at which the authorities have addressed the issue. MoHUA had initially informed the court that it and the DDA would require four months to finalise the conversion policy and procedure. The Bench rejected the proposal after observing that if it was approved, the matter would move to December 2026 or January 2027, while leaving property conversions at a standstill.

The court highlighted that it had been asking MoHUA and the DDA to address this matter since July 3, 2026. Despite several orders, there had been no progress towards resolving the issue. The latest order places renewed pressure on the authorities to clear the backlog while establishing an effective framework.