Dharmender Kumar vs. Municipal Corporation of Delhi

Writ Petition (Civil) · 2026:DHC:7765-DBDecided 9 Sept 2026New Delhi Bench
W.P.(C) 11733/2026CNR: DLHC010377302026
Justice Prathiba M. Singh · Justice Vikas Mahajan

Background

The petitioner, a street vendor, sought court directions preventing his removal from a vending site and asking for allotment of a regular "Tehbazari" (licensed vending) site. He held a partial Certificate of Vending but did not disclose to the Court an earlier, related case in which his own family had been accused of encroachment and where an order for removal of encroachments had been passed against them.

Decision Breakdown

The Municipal Corporation pointed out that the petitioner had concealed this earlier litigation (W.P.(C) 4888/2025, filed by a neighbour alleging encroachment by the petitioner's family) and had not filed photographs of his vending site or a complete copy of his vending certificate. The Court held that failing to disclose this connected, adverse litigation amounted to serious concealment of material facts, disentitling the petitioner to any relief, and dismissed the petition.

Lesson Learnt

Anyone approaching a court for relief must disclose all related litigation and material facts, even if unfavourable: concealment alone can be fatal to an otherwise arguable case.

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