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The Delhi High Court has said that giving public grounds to whoever applies first is unfair. Authorities must now publish clear rules and a fair scoring system every year.
Key points
- The Delhi High Court has held that ‘first come, first served’ is not a fair way to give out public grounds for Ramlila and similar events.
- Authorities must publish a notice at least 90 days before the first event, with grounds, dates, rules and how applications will be judged.
- If many eligible groups apply, the choice must follow a published scoring system, not the order of applications.
- Past organisers may get a small preference for a good record, but no automatic right, and not beyond two years in a row when others compete.
- The court did not cancel this year’s allotment because the events were about to start. The new rules apply from next time.
What happened?
According to reports in LiveLaw, Bar and Bench and The Tribune, a charitable group went to the Delhi High Court. It is called Rays of New Beginning Foundation.
It had held a Ramlila show at a public ground in Delhi in 2023 and 2024. This year its application for the same ground was turned down.
The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) gave the ground to another group. That group had applied earlier. The board said its rule was “first come, first served”.
The foundation pointed to a Delhi Development Authority (DDA) policy that, it said, gave a preference to earlier organisers. It asked the court to cancel the other group’s booking.
What did the High Court say?
Justice Amit Mahajan held that “first come, first served” is not a fair way to hand out public grounds. As reported, he said it helps people who learn early that a ground is free. In the court’s words, a person with “privileged access to administrative information may obtain an advantage that is unavailable to others”.
The court also warned about a second problem. If the same group gets the same ground year after year, a quiet monopoly can form. So past organisers cannot claim the ground as a right.
Did the foundation get the ground?
No. The court did not cancel this year’s booking. The festival dates were close, and the court said it was not practical to change the allotment now.
As reported, the new directions work from the next season. So the foundation gets no win for 2026. But the next round of bookings must be run differently.
What must the authorities do now?
As reported, the court gave these directions for public grounds used for Ramlila and similar cultural or religious events:
- Publish a notice every year, at least 90 days before the first event.
- Say which grounds are free, the dates, who can apply, the charges and how applications will be judged.
- Take applications for a ground in one fixed window, not as they trickle in.
- If several eligible groups apply for one ground, compare them using a published scoring system.
- Keep a way for the losing side to complain, and finish it before the event starts.
A group with a good record can get a small preference. But the reports say this should not run beyond two years in a row when other eligible groups apply.
Sections involved
Why does this matter to ordinary people?
Public grounds, parks and community halls in Delhi are limited. Many groups want them for festivals, weddings, fairs, sports and meetings. Resident welfare associations, trusts and small organisers often lose out to groups who simply knew the right person or applied first.
This order says that a public body must run such an allotment openly and fairly. It does not only help Ramlila committees. The reasoning can help any group that is refused a public space without clear reasons.
Also read | Nehru Place no-vending zone: what the Delhi High Court order means for street vendors
What a fair allotment should show you
- A public notice with dates and rules
- One clear window to apply
- A published way of judging applications
- No automatic right for past organisers
- A complaint step before the event
What happens next?
DUSIB and the other authorities must now frame guidelines before each allotment round. They should be ready well before the festival season.
Groups that are refused can use the complaint step. If that fails, they can still go to the High Court.
What happens next
- 1NoticeAuthority publishes the yearly notice at least 90 days before the first event.
- 2ApplyAll groups apply in one fixed window.
- 3CheckPapers, registration and authority to represent the group are checked.
- 4ScoreIf many apply for one ground, a published scoring system decides.
- 5ComplaintRefused groups can complain, and it must be decided before the event.
- 6CourtIf still unfair, the group can file a writ petition in the High Court.
If this happens to you
- Ask in writing for the reason your application was refused, and note the date you applied.
- Collect your papers: registration certificate, resolution authorising the applicant, past permissions, and proof of your application and any fee paid.
- Look for the notice. Check whether the authority published dates, rules and judging criteria. If not, say so in your complaint.
- Use the complaint step with the authority at once. Time is short before an event.
- Move the Delhi High Court early if it is still unfair. The foundation here lost this year’s round partly because the festival was about to start.
Case at a glance
- Court
- Delhi High Court (single judge, Justice Amit Mahajan)
- Case
- Rays of New Beginning Foundation v. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board & Ors
- Reported
- 13 October 2026
- What
- First come, first served held unfair for allotting public grounds for Ramlila and similar events
- What changes
- Yearly published notice, fair scoring, complaint step; 2026 booking not disturbed
Related news
Sources
- LiveLaw: 'First Come, First Serve' Policy For Allotment Of Public Grounds For Ramlila Events Arbitrary: Delhi High Court (13 October 2026)
- Bar and Bench: First come first serve policy to allot grounds for Ramleela unfair: Delhi High Court (13 October 2026)
- The Tribune: 'First come, first served' no fair way to allot grounds for Ramlila: Delhi HC (14 October 2026)
- ANI: Delhi HC says 'first come, first served' cannot be sole basis for allotting Ramleela grounds (13 October 2026)
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This explainer is general legal information based on news reports and the text of the law. It is not legal advice on any particular case, and it does not say that any person has committed an offence; allegations are decided by the courts.