Delhi HC Sets DDA Conversion Deadline: What It Means for Buyers in Delhi

What happened?

Hindustan Times reported that the Delhi High Court has ordered the DDA to decide pending applications to convert properties from leasehold to freehold within two months. The bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan passed the order on September 28. Pending cases are to be handled under the policy now in force. A fresh policy for future applications may be framed by the housing ministry (MoHUA) and the DDA.

According to the report, the court noted that 1,373 applications filed between 2020 and 2026 are pending, and that the DDA has already collected ₹155.06 crore in conversion charges. Of these, 308 applications were approved, but the conveyance deeds were never executed. The DDA's IDLI portal has been down since January 2, so owners cannot file new applications.

Hindustan Times said the ministry's secretary first asked for at least two months, and up to four, to settle a policy. The bench called that unacceptable because it would leave conversions frozen across the city for about a year. It also criticised an affidavit that gave no firm timeline. The next hearing is on December 11, and the MoHUA secretary and DDA vice-chairman have been asked to attend.

Which sectors are affected?

• Delhi leasehold property owners
• DDA flats and plots
• Delhi resale housing market
• Pending conversion applicants

Potential impact

The order covers only applications already filed and paid for. It does not announce a new policy, and it does not reopen the portal for new applicants. If the DDA meets the deadline, owners in the pending group should find it easier to sell or transfer their property. Buyers and lenders generally prefer freehold title. Any effect on prices is likely to be modest and uneven, and the order does not guarantee a rise in values.

There is real execution risk. The court recorded that approved cases have also stalled at the conveyance deed stage, so approval alone does not complete a conversion. The DDA could also seek more time, or the policy for future applications could be delayed. Until deeds are actually executed, treat any DDA flat with a pending conversion as an unresolved title question when negotiating a price.