PIL seeking directions to MCD over garbage collection charges levied with property tax as mandatory, then made optional. Petitioner pressed only the refund prayer; court directed a fresh representation to MCD within a fortnight and its decision in two months, disposing of the petition.
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$~98
Through: In person.
versus
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr.Vikas Chopra, S.C. with Mr.Neeraj Kumar, Ms.Khushi, Advs for MCD.
CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA O R D E R % 18.03.2026
“A. Direct the Respondent, namely the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, to place on record the administrative approvals, circulars, policy decisions, and file notings pursuant to which garbage collection / user collection charges were initially presented as mandatory while remitting property tax dues for the Financial Year 2025-2026 and were subsequently rendered optional;
B. Direct the Respondent to disclose the total quantum of garbage collection / user collection charges collected from property tax payers during the period when such charges were reflected as mandatory through the property tax payment system;
This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 23/03/2026 at 11:39:08
C. Direct the Respondent to frame, publish, and implement a clear and transparent mechanism for refund or adjustment of the amounts collected from property tax payers when the said charges were presented as mandatory;
D. Direct the Respondent to refund the amounts so collected from property tax payers who remitted the said charges under the impression that the same were mandatory, along with applicable bank interest for the period during which such amounts have remained with the Respondent;
E. Direct the concerned Respondents to publicly apologise to the public at large by expressly acknowledging their culpable neglect, overall inaction and dereliction of statutory duty which culminated to the deteriorated state of affairs of the present matter and, upen obtaining the Petitioner’s approval of the precise contents of such apology, to cause its publication on their official website, all official social media platforms and in two national and two local daily newspapers within fifteen days from the date on which this Hon’ble Court adjudicates the present petition or passes any interim order consonant with the circumstances herein;
F. Pass such other and further orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the present matter.”
This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 23/03/2026 at 11:39:08
Charges’, which initially were mandatory and later on has been made optional.
DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ
TEJAS KARIA, J
MARCH 18, 2026 S.Rawat
This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 23/03/2026 at 11:39:08
1 issue framed by the court
Whether MCD should refund garbage collection charges collected from property tax payers when presented as mandatory but later made optional.
Harmeet Singh
Municipal Corporation of Delhi
Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya
Tejas Karia
As recorded by the court registry
A petition under Article 226 of the Constitution asking a High Court to issue a writ against the State or a public authority in a civil matter.
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
