In Brief
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) challenged a High Court judgment that had favoured the respondent, Anant Raj Agencies Pvt. Ltd., over a dispute involving a leasehold property. The original lessee had failed to renew the lease according to the procedure specified in the lease deed and had breached lease terms. When the lease expired, the DDA issued a termination notice. Merely accepting rent from the lessee did not constitute a renewal of lease. The Court held that without valid renewal, the lessee became an unauthorised occupant of public premises. Consequently, the sale of the property by the original lessee to the respondent was void, as it lacked valid rights to transfer. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, set aside the lower courts' judgments, and directed the DDA to take possession."
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