In Brief
Hello Home Educational Society sought allotment of land in Vasant Kunj to establish a school, relying on an in-principle approval from the Lieutenant Governor granted in March 2003. However, the Society had Sponsorship Letters and Essentiality Certificates only for Jasola, not Vasant Kunj. A policy change in December 2003 mandated that future land allotments be made through auction or tender. The Society filed a writ petition in 2014, after an 11-year delay. The High Court allowed it, invoking the doctrine of legitimate expectation. The Supreme Court reversed the decision, holding that in-principle approvals do not create vested rights until formally communicated; the Society lacked the necessary sponsorship for Vasant Kunj; the 11-year delay constituted laches; and policy decisions taken in public interest override earlier provisional approvals not yet implemented.
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