Babudom of bureaucracy a symbol of colonial mindset: Delhi High Court berates officials for not deciding farmer's application for 35 years

While dealing with a farmer’s plea pending before land authorities for over 35 years, the Delhi High Court on Monday berated the ‘Babu’ culture in the Indian bureaucracy terming it a symbol of colonial mindset and a major obstacle in attaining the goal of becoming a developed nation [Shri Ishwar Singh v Land and Building Department and Anr]. .Single-judge Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said that it is high time that the mindset is shunned away for good, and the people of this country are liberated from such carcinogenic tendencies and vestiges of the colonial past, the court has said.“Today, India is celebrating the Amrit Kaal of 75 years of its independence, and marching ahead shunning the shackles of servitude, and with fresh vigour and greater conviction to become a developed nation. The Babudom of the bureaucracy is symbolic of the colonial mindset, and a major obstacle to attainment of this goal. It is high time that the mindset is shunned away for good, and the people of this country are liberated from such carcinogenic tendencies and vestiges of the colonial past,” the court said..A farmer named Ishwar Singh has moved the High Court stating that his land at Maidangarhi was acquired by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in 1987.Though he received compensation, his application for allotment of an alternative plot of land is still pending, the court was told. .Justice Singh noted that in its order of August 2, 2022 clear directions were passed to the authorities to dispose of Singh’s pending application within 15 days from the date of the order, failing which, the concerned officials of both the respondents were to remain present before the court.The judge said that despite such clear directions, the authorities and its officials have failed to comply with the orders of the court, have not made any efforts to adjudicate the application, not filed any application for extension of time or to seek exemption from personal appearance.“This clearly depicts the high-headedness of the officials namely – Vice-Chairman, DDA and Secretary, Land & Building Department,” the court said..It further said that it is disturbing that such an approach adopted by the concerned officers and their ‘failure to discharge their duty', has led to filing of a plethora of petitions before the High Courts across the country, thereby, adding to the pendency and backlog of cases as well as burdening the judiciary”.“It was regretfully remarked by this Court even in its last order that the situation depicted a sad state of affairs and travesty of justice that the representations of the citizens of this country have been reduced to mere pieces of paper and the system kept on moving, in its usual snail speed, being least bothered about their grievances. Consequently, their applications have been remaining stacked in files for decades and decades.”.The court said that this is open and wilful and open breach of authority of the court and prima facie amounts of contempt of court.“The orders passed by a constitutional Court of this country being violated at the sweet will of the officials openly butchers the spirit of Rule of Law.”.The court granted the officials another opportunity to be present before it today (Tuesday) with an affidavit explaining the reason for non-compliance of its orders.The officials appeared before the court today and filed an affidavit saying that they will be careful and will will decide the application. Justice Singh has now given them one more month to comply with its orders. .Advocates NS Dalal, Devesh Pratap Singh, Alok Kumar, Rachana Dalal, Sweta Kadyan and Vishvender Balhara appeared for the petitioner.Advocates Yeeshu Jain, Jyoti Tyagi, Prabhsahay Kaur and Aditya Pratap Singh appeared for respondents. .[Read Order]