SC Adjourns DIAL, GMR Group’s Plea Challenging Delhi HC Order to Vacate Pushpanjali Farms to Nov 18
On September 10, the SC had stayed the Delhi High Court’s September 1 order which had directed DIAL and associated GMR entities to vacate the property
The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned to November 18 the hearing of a plea filed by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and other GMR Group entities challenging the Delhi High Court’s direction to vacate Pushpanjali Farms, a southwest Delhi property currently serving as the residence of GMR Group Chairperson G. M. Rao.
The Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N. V. Anjaria took note of the matter and granted an adjournment after briefly hearing the parties.
Earlier, on September 10, the Supreme Court had stayed the Delhi High Court’s September 1 order which had directed DIAL and associated GMR entities to vacate the property. The High Court’s decision came in the backdrop of a dispute concerning the ownership and possession of the property, which is located near the Delhi Airport.
Pushpanjali Farms has reportedly been under the occupation of GMR Group for several years and serves as the official residence of its founder-chairman. The Delhi High Court, while ruling in favour of the petitioner in the property dispute, had ordered DIAL and other GMR entities to vacate the premises within a stipulated period.
Following the High Court’s order, DIAL approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the eviction direction, arguing that the order was passed without proper consideration of the facts and circumstances surrounding the property’s usage and ownership.
The Supreme Court’s interim stay on September 10 provided temporary relief to DIAL and the GMR Group, allowing them to retain possession of the premises until further orders. With the matter now adjourned, the final decision on whether the Group must vacate the property will be taken after the next hearing.
Rao, who heads the GMR Group operating Delhi Airport, has been residing in a farmhouse spread over 2.45 acres with a 30,000 sq. ft. built-up area, for which a monthly rent of Rs. 45.6 lakh is paid. Court filings revealed that DIAL had leased the property from Indus Sor Urja in 2020 and spent a “substantial amount” to make it suitable for Rao’s residence. However, in 2024, Indus Sor Urja sold the property to Onkar Infracon for Rs. 115 crore, paying Rs. 9 crore in stamp duty.
Following the purchase, the new owner terminated the lease and sought possession. When DIAL resisted, Onkar Infracon moved the Delhi High Court. On September 1, Justice Subramonium Prasad, in a detailed 59-page judgment, ruled that the lease deed relied upon by GMR entities was unregistered and therefore unenforceable. The Court had held that the arrangement amounted to a month-to-month tenancy, which had been validly terminated, and directed DIAL to vacate the farmhouse and hand over possession.
The original lessees were three GMR companies. At a later stage a fourth GMR entity began paying rent and claimed to have substituted one of the earlier lessees, but no formal substitution deed was ever executed. On 20 May 2024 Onkar Infotech purchased the Pushpanjali property from Indus Sor Urja through a registered sale deed after paying 115 crore rupees along with nearly 9 crore rupees in stamp duty and registration charges. The sale deed was duly executed and registered. Following the sale, Indus Sor Urja informed the defendants about the transfer and Delhi International Airport Ltd acknowledged the change in ownership, even requesting bank details from Onkar to remit rent payments.
After taking possession as owner Onkar Infotech served a termination notice dated July 7, 2024 on the GMR companies. The notice stated that since the 2020 lease deed was unregistered, the arrangement was only a month to month tenancy under the Transfer of Property Act. The defendants were asked to vacate the farmhouse by July 2024. Onkar also stopped accepting rent after issuing the termination notice. When GMR entities refused to vacate, Onkar filed the present suit for possession.
Case Title: Delhi International Airport Ltd v. Onkar Infotech Pvt Ltd.
Hearing Date: October 29, 2025
Bench: Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N V Anjaria