The Hindu : New Delhi News : Embassy directed to vacate private property

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 25, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Embassy directed to vacate private property

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, DEC. 24. The Delhi High Court has directed the Embassy of Syrian Arab Republic here to vacate plot no. 15 on Palam Marg at Vasant Vihar in South Delhi which it had taken on lease from a private person.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Anil Kumar issued the direction on a plea by the owner of the property A.K. Jajodia, that the Embassy did not enjoy diplomatic immunity in civil matters.

The Bench asked the Embassy to vacate the property within 15 days of the passing of the order or the respondent shall be entitled to execute the decree for possession in accordance with law by obtaining warrants of possession of an Executive Court.

"The argument regarding the diplomatic immunity will not come to the aid of the appellant (Embassy) in the present case. By no stretch of imagination, it can be said that a private individual or citizen of this country who has let out an accommodation to a representative of a sovereign state cannot take back his premises either in case of termination of tenancy or in case of a bona fide need,'' the Bench ruled.

"No immunity, much less diplomatic one, is available to the Chief of the Mission or any other person working in the Mission in the matter which is purely in the domain of landlord-tenant relationship,'' the Bench said.

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