The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs / Department of States
Section
Section 313 Lay-out plans.
(1) Before utilising, selling or otherwise dealing with any land under section 312, the owner thereof shall send to the Commissioner a written application with a lay-out plan of the land showing the following particulars, namely:—
(a) the plots into which the land is proposed to be divided for the erection of buildings thereon and the purpose or purposes for which such buildings are to be used;
(b) the reservation or allotment of any site for any street, open space, park, recreation ground, school, market or any other public purpose;
(c) the intended level, direction and width of street or streets;
(d) the regular line of street or streets;
(e) the arrangements to be made for leveling, paving, metalling, flagging, channelling, severing, draining, conserving and lighting street or streets.
(2) The provisions of this Act and the bye-laws made thereunder as to width of the public streets and the height of buildings abutting thereon, shall apply in the case of streets referred to in sub-section (1) and all the particulars referred to in that sub-section shall be subject to the sanction of the Standing Committee.
(3) Within sixty days after the receipt of any application under sub-section (1) the Standing Committee shall either accord sanction to the lay-out plan on such conditions as it may think fit or disallow it or ask for further information with respect to it.
(4) Such sanction shall be refused:—
(a) if the particulars shown in the lay-out plan would conflict with any arrangements which have been made or which are in the opinion of the Standing Committee likely to be made for carrying out any general scheme of development of Delhi whether contained in the master plan or a zonal development plan prepared for Delhi or not; or
(b) if the said lay-out plan does not conform to the provisions of this Act and bye-laws made thereunder; or
(c) if any street proposed in the plan is not designed so as to connect at one end with a street which is already open.
(5) No person shall utilise, sell or otherwise deal with any land or lay-out or make any new street without or otherwise than in conformity with the orders of the Standing Committee and if further information is asked for, no step shall be taken to utilise, sell or otherwise deal with the land or to lay-out or make the street until orders have been passed upon receipt of such information:
Provided that the passing of such orders shall not be in any case delayed for more than sixty days after the Standing Committee has received the information which it considers necessary to enable it to deal with the said application.
(6) The lay-out plan referred to earlier in this section shall, if so required by the Standing Committee, be prepared by a licensed town planner.
(a) the plots into which the land is proposed to be divided for the erection of buildings thereon and the purpose or purposes for which such buildings are to be used;
(b) the reservation or allotment of any site for any street, open space, park, recreation ground, school, market or any other public purpose;
(c) the intended level, direction and width of street or streets;
(d) the regular line of street or streets;
(e) the arrangements to be made for leveling, paving, metalling, flagging, channelling, severing, draining, conserving and lighting street or streets.
(2) The provisions of this Act and the bye-laws made thereunder as to width of the public streets and the height of buildings abutting thereon, shall apply in the case of streets referred to in sub-section (1) and all the particulars referred to in that sub-section shall be subject to the sanction of the Standing Committee.
(3) Within sixty days after the receipt of any application under sub-section (1) the Standing Committee shall either accord sanction to the lay-out plan on such conditions as it may think fit or disallow it or ask for further information with respect to it.
(4) Such sanction shall be refused:—
(a) if the particulars shown in the lay-out plan would conflict with any arrangements which have been made or which are in the opinion of the Standing Committee likely to be made for carrying out any general scheme of development of Delhi whether contained in the master plan or a zonal development plan prepared for Delhi or not; or
(b) if the said lay-out plan does not conform to the provisions of this Act and bye-laws made thereunder; or
(c) if any street proposed in the plan is not designed so as to connect at one end with a street which is already open.
(5) No person shall utilise, sell or otherwise deal with any land or lay-out or make any new street without or otherwise than in conformity with the orders of the Standing Committee and if further information is asked for, no step shall be taken to utilise, sell or otherwise deal with the land or to lay-out or make the street until orders have been passed upon receipt of such information:
Provided that the passing of such orders shall not be in any case delayed for more than sixty days after the Standing Committee has received the information which it considers necessary to enable it to deal with the said application.
(6) The lay-out plan referred to earlier in this section shall, if so required by the Standing Committee, be prepared by a licensed town planner.
Section 314 Alteration or demolition of street made in breach of section 313.
(1) If any person lays-out or makes any street referred to in section 313, without or otherwise than in conformity with the orders of the Standing Committee, the Commissioner may, whether or not the offender be prosecuted under this Act, by notice:—
(a) require the offender to show cause by a written statement signed by him and sent to the Commissioner on or before such date as may be specified in the notice, why such street should not be altered to the satisfaction of the Commissioner or if such alteration be impracticable, why such street should not be demolished; or
(b) require the offender to appear before the Commissioner either personally or by a duly authorised agent on such day and at such time and place as may be specified in the notice and show cause as aforesaid.
(2) If any person on whom such notice is served fails to show cause to the satisfaction of the Commissioner why such street should not be so altered or demolished, the Commissioner may pass an order directing the alteration or demolition of such street.
(a) require the offender to show cause by a written statement signed by him and sent to the Commissioner on or before such date as may be specified in the notice, why such street should not be altered to the satisfaction of the Commissioner or if such alteration be impracticable, why such street should not be demolished; or
(b) require the offender to appear before the Commissioner either personally or by a duly authorised agent on such day and at such time and place as may be specified in the notice and show cause as aforesaid.
(2) If any person on whom such notice is served fails to show cause to the satisfaction of the Commissioner why such street should not be so altered or demolished, the Commissioner may pass an order directing the alteration or demolition of such street.
Section 315 Power of Commissioner to order work to be carried out or to carry it out himself in default.
(1) If any private street or part thereof is not levelled, paved, metalled, flagged, channelled, severed, drained, conserved or lighted to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, he may by notice require the owners of such street or part and the owners of the lands and buildings fronting or abutting on such street or part to carry out any work which in his opinion may be necessary, and within such time as may be specified in such notice.
(2) If such work is not carried out within the time specified in the notice, the Commissioner may, if he thinks fit, execute it and the expenses incurred shall be paid by the owners referred to in sub-section (1) in such proportion as may be determined by the Commissioner and shall be recoverable from them as an arrear of tax under this Act.
(2) If such work is not carried out within the time specified in the notice, the Commissioner may, if he thinks fit, execute it and the expenses incurred shall be paid by the owners referred to in sub-section (1) in such proportion as may be determined by the Commissioner and shall be recoverable from them as an arrear of tax under this Act.
Section 316 Right of owners to require streets to be declared public.
If any street has been levelled, paved, metalled, flagged, channelled, severed, drained, conserved and lighted under the provisions of section 315, the Commissioner may, and on the requisition of a majority of the owners referred to in sub-section (1) of that section shall, declare such a street to be a public street and thereupon the street shall vest in 1[2[the Corporation]].
1. Subs. by Delhi Act 12 of 2011, s. 2 “the Corporation” (w.e.f. 13-1-2012).
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 2022, s. 2, for “a Corporation” (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 2022, s. 2, for “a Corporation” (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).
Section 317 Prohibition of projections upon streets, etc.
(1) 1[No person] shall erect, set up, add to, or place against or in front of any premises any structure or fixture which will---
(a) overhang, jut or project into, or in any way encroach upon, and obstruct in any way the safe or convenient passage of the public along, any street, or
(b) jut or project into or encroach upon any drain or open channel in any street so as in any way to interfere with the use or proper working of such drain or channel or to impede the inspection or cleansing thereof.
(2) The Commissioner may by notice require the owner or occupier of any premises to remove, or to take such other action as he may direct in relation to, any structure or fixture which has been erected, set up, added to, or placed against, or in front of, the said premises in contravention of this section.
(3) If the occupier of the said premises removes or alters any structure or fixture in accordance with such notice, he shall be entitled, unless the structure or fixture was erected, set up or placed by himself, to credit into account with the owner of the premises for all reasonable expenses incurred by him in complying with the notice.
1. Subs. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch. for “Except as provided in section 318, no person” (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).
Section 318 Omitted.
[Projections over streets may be permitted in certain cases.] Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provision) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).
Section 319 Ground floor doors, etc., not to open outwards on streets.
The Commissioner may at any time by notice require the owner of any premises on the ground floor of which any door, gate, bar, or window opens outwards upon a street or upon any land required for the improvement of a street in such manner, as in the opinion of the Commissioner, to obstruct the safe or convenient passage of the public along such street, to have the said door, gate, bar or window altered so as not to open outwards.
Section 320 Prohibition of structures or fixtures which cause obstruction in streets.
(1) No person shall, except with the permission of the Commissioner granted in this behalf, erect or set up any wall, fence, rail, post, step, booth or other structure whether fixed or movable or whether of a permanent or temporary nature, or any fixture in or upon any street or upon or over any open channel, drain, well or tank in any street so as to form an obstruction to, or an encroachment upon, or a projection over, or to occupy any portion of such street, channel, drain, well or tank.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to any erection or thing to which clause (c) sub-section (1) of section 325 applies.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to any erection or thing to which clause (c) sub-section (1) of section 325 applies.
Section 321 Prohibition of deposit, etc., of things in streets.
(1) No person shall, except with the permission of the Commissioner and on payment of such fee as he in each case thinks fit, place or deposit upon any street, or upon any open channel, drain or well in any street or upon any public place any stall, chair, bench, box, ladder, bale or other thing whatsoever so as to form an obstruction thereto or encroachment thereon.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) applies to building materials.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) applies to building materials.
Section 322 Power to remove anything deposited or exposed for sale in contravention of this Act.
The Commissioner may, without notice, cause to be removed—
(a) any stall, chair, bench, box, ladder, bale or other thing whatsoever, placed, deposited, projected, attached or suspended in, upon from or to any place in contravention of this Act;
(b) any article whatsoever hawked or exposed for sale on any public street or in other public place in contravention of this Act and vehicle, package, box or any other thing in or on which such article is placed.
(a) any stall, chair, bench, box, ladder, bale or other thing whatsoever, placed, deposited, projected, attached or suspended in, upon from or to any place in contravention of this Act;
(b) any article whatsoever hawked or exposed for sale on any public street or in other public place in contravention of this Act and vehicle, package, box or any other thing in or on which such article is placed.
Section 323 Prohibition of the tethering of animals and milking of cattle.
(1) No person shall tether any animal or cause or permit the same to be tethered in any public street.
(2) No person shall milk or cause or permit to be milked any cow or buffalo in any street.
(3) Any animal tethered or any cow or buffalo found being milked as aforesaid in any street may be removed by the Commissioner or any municipal officer or employee and be impounded and dealt with under the provisions of the Cattle-Trespass Act, 1871 (1 of 1871).
(2) No person shall milk or cause or permit to be milked any cow or buffalo in any street.
(3) Any animal tethered or any cow or buffalo found being milked as aforesaid in any street may be removed by the Commissioner or any municipal officer or employee and be impounded and dealt with under the provisions of the Cattle-Trespass Act, 1871 (1 of 1871).
Section 324 Precautions during repair of streets.
(1) The Commissioner shall, so far as is practicable during the construction or repair of any public street, or any municipal drain or any premises vested in 1[2[the Corporation]]--
(a) cause the same to be fenced and guarded;
(b) take proper precautions against accident by shoring up and protecting the adjoining buildings;
(c) cause such bars, chains or posts to be fixed across or in any street in which any such work of construction or repair is under execution as are necessary in order to prevent the passage of vehicles or animals and avert danger.
(2) The Commissioner shall cause such street, drain or premises to be sufficiently lighted or guarded during night while under construction or repair.
(3) The Commissioner shall, with all reasonable speed, cause the said work to be completed, the ground to be filled in, the said street, drain or premises to be repaired and the rubbish occasioned thereby to be removed.
(4) No person shall, without the permission of the Commissioner or other lawful authority, remove any bar, chain, post or shoring, timber, or remove or extinguish any light set up under this section.
(a) cause the same to be fenced and guarded;
(b) take proper precautions against accident by shoring up and protecting the adjoining buildings;
(c) cause such bars, chains or posts to be fixed across or in any street in which any such work of construction or repair is under execution as are necessary in order to prevent the passage of vehicles or animals and avert danger.
(2) The Commissioner shall cause such street, drain or premises to be sufficiently lighted or guarded during night while under construction or repair.
(3) The Commissioner shall, with all reasonable speed, cause the said work to be completed, the ground to be filled in, the said street, drain or premises to be repaired and the rubbish occasioned thereby to be removed.
(4) No person shall, without the permission of the Commissioner or other lawful authority, remove any bar, chain, post or shoring, timber, or remove or extinguish any light set up under this section.
1. Subs. by Delhi Act 12 of 2011, s. 2 “the Corporation” (w.e.f. 13-1-2012).
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 2022, s. 2, for “a Corporation” (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 2022, s. 2, for “a Corporation” (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).
Section 325 Streets not to be opened or broken up and building materials not to be deposited thereon without permission.
(1) No person other than the Commissioner or a municipal officer or other municipal employee shall, without the written permission of the Commissioner—
(a) open, break up, displace, take up or make any alteration in, or cause any injury to the soil or pavement or any wall, fence, post, chain or other material or thing forming part of any street; or
(b) deposit any building materials in any street; or
(c) set up in any street any scaffold or any temporary erection for the purpose of any work whatever, or any posts, bars, rails, boards or other things by way of an enclosure, for the purpose of making mortar or depositing bricks, lime, rubbish or other materials.
(2) Any permission granted under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) shall be terminable at the discretion of the Commissioner on his giving not less than twenty-four hours notice of such termination to the person to whom such permission was granted.
(3) The Commissioner may, without notice, cause to be removed any of the things referred to in clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) which has been deposited or set up in any street without the permission specified in that sub-section, on which having been deposited or set up with such permission has not been removed within the period specified in the notice issued under sub-section (2):
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to cases under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) in which an application for permission has been made with such fee as may be prescribed by the Commissioner in this behalf but not reply has been sent to the applicant within seven days from the date of the application.
(a) open, break up, displace, take up or make any alteration in, or cause any injury to the soil or pavement or any wall, fence, post, chain or other material or thing forming part of any street; or
(b) deposit any building materials in any street; or
(c) set up in any street any scaffold or any temporary erection for the purpose of any work whatever, or any posts, bars, rails, boards or other things by way of an enclosure, for the purpose of making mortar or depositing bricks, lime, rubbish or other materials.
(2) Any permission granted under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) shall be terminable at the discretion of the Commissioner on his giving not less than twenty-four hours notice of such termination to the person to whom such permission was granted.
(3) The Commissioner may, without notice, cause to be removed any of the things referred to in clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) which has been deposited or set up in any street without the permission specified in that sub-section, on which having been deposited or set up with such permission has not been removed within the period specified in the notice issued under sub-section (2):
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to cases under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) in which an application for permission has been made with such fee as may be prescribed by the Commissioner in this behalf but not reply has been sent to the applicant within seven days from the date of the application.
Section 326 Disposal of things removed under this Chapter.
(1) Any of the things caused to be removed by the Commissioner under this Chapter shall, unless the owner thereof turns up to take back such thing and pays to the Commissioner the charges for the removal and storage of such thing, be disposed of by the Commissioner by public auction or in such other manner and within such time as the Commissioner thinks fit.
(2) The charges for removal and storage of the thing sold under sub-section (1) shall be paid out of the proceeds of the sale thereof and the balance, if any, shall be paid to the owner of the thing sold on a claim being made therefor within a period of one year from the date of sale, and if no such claim is made within the said period, shall be credited to the Municipal Fund.
(2) The charges for removal and storage of the thing sold under sub-section (1) shall be paid out of the proceeds of the sale thereof and the balance, if any, shall be paid to the owner of the thing sold on a claim being made therefor within a period of one year from the date of sale, and if no such claim is made within the said period, shall be credited to the Municipal Fund.
Section 327 Naming and numbering of streets.
(1) The Commissioner may---
(a) with the sanction of 1[2[the Corporation]], determine the name or number by which any street or public place vested in 1[2[the Corporation]] shall be known;
(b) cause to be put up or painted at a conspicuous part of any building, wall or place at or near each end, corner or entrance of such street or on some convenient part of such street the name or number by which it is to be known;
(c) cause to be put up or painted on boards of suitable size the name of any public place vested in the Corporation;
(d) determine the number or sub-number by which any premises or part of such premises shall be known and cause such number or sub-number to be fixed to the side or outer door of such premises or to some place at the entrance of the enclosure thereof.
(2) No person shall destroy, remove, deface or in any way injure or alter any such name or number or sub-number or put up or paint any name or number or sub-number different from that put up or painted by order of the Commissioner.
(a) with the sanction of 1[2[the Corporation]], determine the name or number by which any street or public place vested in 1[2[the Corporation]] shall be known;
(b) cause to be put up or painted at a conspicuous part of any building, wall or place at or near each end, corner or entrance of such street or on some convenient part of such street the name or number by which it is to be known;
(c) cause to be put up or painted on boards of suitable size the name of any public place vested in the Corporation;
(d) determine the number or sub-number by which any premises or part of such premises shall be known and cause such number or sub-number to be fixed to the side or outer door of such premises or to some place at the entrance of the enclosure thereof.
(2) No person shall destroy, remove, deface or in any way injure or alter any such name or number or sub-number or put up or paint any name or number or sub-number different from that put up or painted by order of the Commissioner.
1. Subs. by Delhi Act 12 of 2011, s. 2 “the Corporation” (w.e.f. 13-1-2012).
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 2022, s. 2, for “a Corporation” (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 2022, s. 2, for “a Corporation” (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).
Section 328 Commissioner to take steps for repairing or enclosing dangerous places.
(1) If any place is, in the opinion of the Commissioner, for want of sufficient repair or protection or enclosure, or owing to some work being carried on thereupon, dangerous or causing inconvenience to passengers along a street or to other persons including the owner or occupier of the said place, who have legal access thereto or to the neighbourhood thereof, the commissioner may by notice in writing require the owner or occupier of such place to repair, protect or enclose the same or take such other step as shall appear to the Commissioner necessary in order to prevent the danger or inconvenience arising therefrom.
(2) The Commissioner may before giving any such notice or before the period of any such notice has expired, take such temporary measures as he thinks fit to prevent the danger or inconvenience arising therefrom; and any expense incurred by the Commissioner in taking such temporary measures shall be recoverable from the owner or occupier of the place as an arrear of tax under this Act.
(2) The Commissioner may before giving any such notice or before the period of any such notice has expired, take such temporary measures as he thinks fit to prevent the danger or inconvenience arising therefrom; and any expense incurred by the Commissioner in taking such temporary measures shall be recoverable from the owner or occupier of the place as an arrear of tax under this Act.
Section 329 Measures for lighting.
The Commissioner shall—
(a) take measures for lighting in a suitable manner all such public streets and public places as may be specified by the Standing Committee;
(b) procure, erect and maintain such number of lamps, lamp posts and other appurtenances as may be necessary for the said purpose;
(c) cause such lamps to be lighted by means of oil, electricity or such other light as the Standing Committee may determine.
(a) take measures for lighting in a suitable manner all such public streets and public places as may be specified by the Standing Committee;
(b) procure, erect and maintain such number of lamps, lamp posts and other appurtenances as may be necessary for the said purpose;
(c) cause such lamps to be lighted by means of oil, electricity or such other light as the Standing Committee may determine.
Section 330 Omitted.
[Prohibition of removal, etc., of lamps.] Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provision) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-2026).
Section 330A General superintendence etc., of the Central Government.
1[330A. General superintendence, etc., of the 2[3[Central Government]].--Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, the Commissioner shall exercise his powers and discharge his functions under this Chapter, under the general superintendence, direction and control of the 2[3[Central Government]].]
1. Ins. by Act 67 of 1993, s. 98 (w.e.f 1-10-1993).
2. Subs. by Delhi Act 12 of 2011, s. 2 "Central Government" (w.e.f. 13-1-2012).
3. Subs. by Act 10 of 2022, s. 2, for "Government" (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).
2. Subs. by Delhi Act 12 of 2011, s. 2 "Central Government" (w.e.f. 13-1-2012).
3. Subs. by Act 10 of 2022, s. 2, for "Government" (w.e.f. 22-5-2022).
Section 331 Definition.
In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression “to erect a building” means—
(a) to erect a new building on any site whether previously built upon or not;
(b) tore-erect.—
(i) any building of which more than one-half of the cubical contents above the level of the plinth have been pulled down, burnt or destroyed, or
(ii) any building of which more than one-half of the superficial area of the external walls above the level of the plinth has been pulled down, or
(iii) any frame building of which more than half of the number of the posts or beams in the external walls have been pulled down;
(c) to convert into a dwelling house any building or any part of a building not originally constructed for human habitation or, if originally so constructed, subsequently appropriated for any other purpose;
(d) to convert into more than one dwelling house a building originally constructed as one dwelling house only;
(e) to convert into a place of religious worship or into a sacred building any place or building not originally constructed for such purpose;
(f) to roof or cover an open space between walls or buildings to the extent of the structure which is formed by the roofing or covering of such space;
(g) to convert two or more tenements in a building into a greater or lesser number;
(h) to convert into a stall, shop, warehouse or godown, stable, factory or garage any building not originally constructed for use as such or which was not so used before the change;
(i) to convert a building which when originally constructed was legally exempt from the operations of any building regulations contained in this Act or in any bye-laws made thereunder or in any other law, into a building which had it been originally erected in its converted form, would have been subject to such building regulations;
(j) to convert into or use as dwelling house any building which has been discontinued as or appropriated for any purpose other than a dwelling house.
(a) to erect a new building on any site whether previously built upon or not;
(b) tore-erect.—
(i) any building of which more than one-half of the cubical contents above the level of the plinth have been pulled down, burnt or destroyed, or
(ii) any building of which more than one-half of the superficial area of the external walls above the level of the plinth has been pulled down, or
(iii) any frame building of which more than half of the number of the posts or beams in the external walls have been pulled down;
(c) to convert into a dwelling house any building or any part of a building not originally constructed for human habitation or, if originally so constructed, subsequently appropriated for any other purpose;
(d) to convert into more than one dwelling house a building originally constructed as one dwelling house only;
(e) to convert into a place of religious worship or into a sacred building any place or building not originally constructed for such purpose;
(f) to roof or cover an open space between walls or buildings to the extent of the structure which is formed by the roofing or covering of such space;
(g) to convert two or more tenements in a building into a greater or lesser number;
(h) to convert into a stall, shop, warehouse or godown, stable, factory or garage any building not originally constructed for use as such or which was not so used before the change;
(i) to convert a building which when originally constructed was legally exempt from the operations of any building regulations contained in this Act or in any bye-laws made thereunder or in any other law, into a building which had it been originally erected in its converted form, would have been subject to such building regulations;
(j) to convert into or use as dwelling house any building which has been discontinued as or appropriated for any purpose other than a dwelling house.