Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the Municipal Government of Delhi.
Chapter I: Preliminary
Chapter II: Establishment of Municipal Corporations of Delhi
Constitution of Municipal Corporation
- 3 Establishment of the Corporation
- 3A Division of the area of the Corporation into zones and words
- 4 Duration of the Corporation
Election of councillors and aldermen
- 5 Delimitation of wards
- 5A [Omitted.]
- 6 Power to alter or amend delimitation orders
- 7 Elections to the Corporation
- 7A Electoral roll for every ward
- 7B Electoral registration officers
- 7C Assistant electoral registration officers
- 7D Registration of Electors
- 7E Preparation and revision of electoral rolls
- 7F Correction of entries in electoral roll
- 7G Inclusion of names in electoral roll
- 7H Appeal
- 7-I Jurisdiction of civil courts barred
- 8 Qualifications for councillorship
- 9 Disqualifications for membership of Corporation
- 10 Right to vote
- 11 General elections of councillors
- 12 Filling of casual vacancies in councillorship
- 13 [Omitted.]
- 14 Publication of result of election
Disputes regarding elections
- 15 Election petitions
- 16 Relief that may be claimed by the petitioner
- 17 Grounds for declaring elections to be void
- 18 Procedure to be followed by the district judge
- 19 Decision of the district judge
- 20 Procedure in case of equality of votes
- 21 Finality of decisions
Corrupt practices and electoral offences
- 22 Corrupt practices
- 23 Maintenance of secrecy of voting
- 24 Officers, etc., at elections not to act for candidates or to influence voting
- 25 Prohibition of canvassing in or near polling station and of public meeting on election day
- 26 Penalty for disorderly conduct in or near polling station
- 27 Penalty for misconduct at the polling station
- 28 Breaches of official duty in connection with election
- 29 Removal of ballot papers or ballot boxes or the voting machines from polling station to be an offence
- 29A Prohibition of going armed to or near a polling station
- 29B Offence of booth capturing
- 29C Liquor not to be sold, given or distributed on polling day
- 30 Other offences and penalties therefor
Power to make rules
Councillors and aldermen
- 32 Oath or affirmation
- 32A Declaration of assets
- 32B Vacation of seats in case of multiple membership
- 33 Vacation of seats
- 33A Powers of Election Commission
- 33B Statements made by persons to the Election Commission
- 33C Procedure to be followed by the Election Commission
- 33D Protection of action taken in good faith
- 34 Payment of allowances to councillors and aldermen
Mayor and Deputy Mayor
- 35 Annual election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor
- 36 Term of office of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and facilities and privileges of the Mayor
- 37 Discharge of functions of the Mayor by the Deputy Mayor
- 38 Resignation of Mayor and Deputy Mayor
Committees of the Corporation
Chapter III: Functions of the Corporation
Chapter IV: Municipal Authorities Under the Corporation
Municipal authorities
The Standing Committeee
- 45 Constitution of the Standing Committee
- 46 Casual vacancies
- 47 Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee
- 48 Resignation of Chairman and members of the Standing Committee
- 49 Functions of the Standing Committee
The Wards Committee
- 50 Constitution of the Wards Committee
- 51 Application of sections 47 and 48
- 52 Powers and functions of the Wards Committee
The Commissioner
- 54 Appointment, etc., of the Commissioner
- 55 Salary and allowances of the Commissioner
- 56 Leave of absence of Commissioner
- 57 Appointment of officiating Commissioner in case of death, resignation or removal of Commissioner
- 58 Service regulations of Commissioner
- 59 Functions of the Commissioner
- 60 [Omitted.]
- 61 [Omitted.]
- 62 [Omitted.]
- 63 [Omitted.]
- 64 [Omitted.]
Miscellaneous provisions relating to the various municipal authorities
- 65 Appointment of sub-committees by the various committees
- 66 Commissioner and General Managers not to be interested in any contract, etc., with the Corporation
- 67 Vacation of seats by members of committees
- 68 Committees to continue in office till new committees are constituted
- 69 Power of Corporation to call for extracts of proceedings from the Committees
- 70 Power of Corporation to require the Commissioner, etc., to produce documents and furnish returns, reports, etc
- 71 Exercise of powers to be subject to sanction
Chapter V: Procedure
Transaction of business by the Corporation
- 72 Meetings
- 73 First meeting of the Corporation after general election
- 74 Notice of meetings and business
- 75 Quorum
- 76 Presiding officer
- 77 Presiding officer at meeting for the election of Mayor
- 78 Method of deciding questions
- 79 Maintenance of order at, and admission of public to, meetings; withdrawal and suspension of councillors and alderman
- 80 Councillors or aldermen not to vote on matter in which they are interested
- 81 Right to attend meetings of the Corporation and its committees, etc., and right of councillors and aldermen to ask questions in relation to the municipal government of Delhi
- 82 Power to make regulations
Transaction of business by Standing and other committees
- 83 Presiding officers at meetings of the Standing and other committees
- 84 Conduct of business at meetings of Standing and other committees
Minutes and reports of proceedings
- 85 Keeping of minutes and proceedings
- 86 Circulation of minutes and inspection of minutes and reports of proceedings
- 87 Forwarding minutes and reports of proceedings to the Administrator
Validation
Chapter VI: Municipal Officers and Other Municipal Employees
- 89 Appointment of certain officers
- 90 Schedule of permanent posts and creation of temporary posts
- 90A Officers of erstwhile Corporations to become officers of Corporation
- 91 Restriction on employment of permanent officers and other employees
- 92 Power to make appointments
- 92A Recruitment to category B and category C posts
- 93 Officers and other employees not to undertake any extraneous work
- 94 Officers and other employees not to be interested in any contract, etc., with the Corporation
- 95 Punishment for municipal officers and other employees
- 96 Consultation with the Union Public Service Commission
- 97 Power of Commission to make regulations and reference to the Central Government in case of difference between the Commission and the Corporation
- 98 Power of Corporation to make regulations
Chapter VII: Revenue and Expenditure
The Municipal Fund
- 99 Constitution of the Municipal Fund
- 100 Municipal Fund to be kept in the State Bank of India
- 101 Operation of the Accounts
- 102 Payments not to be made unless covered by a budget-grant
- 103 Duty of persons signing cheques
- 104 Procedure when money not covered by a budget-grant is expended
- 105 Application of Municipal Fund
- 106 Temporary payments from the Municipal Fund for works urgently required for the public service
- 107 Investment of surplus moneys
- 107A Constitution of Finance Commission
Special funds
Budget estimates
Chapter VIII: Taxation
Levy of taxes
Property taxes
- 114 Components of property tax
- 114A Building tax
- 114B Rebate for senior citizens, women and physically challenged persons
- 114C Vacant land tax
- 114D Rate of building tax
- 114E Rate of vacant land tax
- 115 Exemption of vacant lands and buildings from property tax
- 115A Unit of assessment
- 116 Constitution of Municipal Valuation Committee
- 116A Classification of vacant lands and buildings into colonies and groups and specification of base unit area values therefore
- 116B Notification of classification of vacant lands and buildings into colonies and groups and specification of base unit area values therefore and factors for increase or decrease
- 116C Objection to classification of vacant lands and buildings into colonies and groups and fixation of base unit area values and factors for increasing or decreasing such base unit area values
- 116D Final base unit area values of vacant land and of covered space of building
- 116E Determination of annual value of covered space of building and of vacant land
- 116F Determination of annual value of building where land is exempted from property tax
- 116G Transitory provisions
- 116H One-time tax
- 116I Validity of base unit area values of vacant land and covered space of building.—
- 116J Indexation of unit area value
- 116K Hardship and Anomaly Committee
- 117 [Omitted.]
- 118 [Omitted.]
- 119 Taxation of Union properties
- 120 Incidence of property taxes
- 121 Apportionment of liability for property taxes when the premises assessed are let or sub-let
- 122 Recovery of property taxes from occupiers
- 123 Property taxes a first charge on premises on which they are assessed
- 123A Submission of returns
- 123B Self assessment and submission of return
- 123C Revision of assessment
- 123D Power of Commissioner regarding assessment
- 124 Assessment list
- 125 Evidential value of assessment list
- 126 Omitted
- 127 Omitted
- 128 Notice of transfers
- 129 Notice of erection of building, etc
- 130 Notice of demolition or removal of building
- 131 Omitted
- 132 Omitted
- 133 Omitted
- 134 Omitted
- 135 Power of Commissioner to employ valuers
Tax on vehicles and animals
- 136 Tax on certain vehicles and animals and rates thereof
- 137 The tax on whom leviable
- 138 Tax when payable
- 139 Power of Commissioner to compound with livery stable keeper, etc., for tax
Theatre-tax
Tax on advertisements other than advertisements published in the newspapers
- 142 Omitted
- 143 Prohibition of advertisements without written permission of the Commissioner
- 144 Permission of the Commissioner to become void in certain cases
- 145 Presumption in case of contravention
- 146 Power of Commissioner in case of contravention
Duty on transfer of property
- 147 Duty on transfer of property and method of assessment thereof
- 148 Provisions applicable on the introduction of transfer duty
Tax on building application payable along with the application for sanction of building plans
Other taxes
Supplementary taxation
Payment and recovery of taxes
- 152 Time and manner of payment of taxes
- 152A Punishment for wilful default in payment of property tax, furnishing wrong information in return of assessment, etc
- 153 Presentation of bill
- 154 Notice of demand and notice-fee
- 155 Penalty in case of default of payment of taxes
- 156 Recovery of tax
- 156A Recovery of property tax
- 157 Distress
- 158 Disposal of distrained property and attachment and sale of immovable property
- 159 Recovery from a person about to leave Delhi
- 160 Power to institute suit for recovery
- 161 Power of seizure of vehicles and animals in case of non-payment of tax thereon
- 162 Occupiers may be required to pay rent towards satisfaction of property taxes
Remission and Refund
Appeals
- 169 Appeal against assessment, etc
- 170 Conditions of right to appeal
- 171 Finality of appellate orders
Miscellaneous provisions relating to taxation
- 172 Power to inspect for purposes of determining rateable value or tax
- 172A Power to appoint an agency for administration of property tax
- 173 Composition
- 174 Irrecoverable debts
- 175 Obligation to disclose liability
- 176 Immaterial error not to affect liability
- 177 General power of exemption
- 178 Omitted
- 179 Omitted
- 180 Omitted
- 181 Omitted
- 182 Omitted
- 183 Omitted
Taxes on entertainment and betting
Chapter IX: Borrowing
- 185 Power of Corporation to borrow
- 186 Time for repayment of money borrowed under section 185
- 187 Form and effect of debentures
- 188 Payment to survivors of joint payees
- 189 Receipt by joint holders for interest or dividend
- 190 Maintenance and investment of sinking funds
- 191 Application of sinking funds
- 192 Annual statement by Commissioner
- 193 Power of Corporation to consolidate loans
- 194 Priority of payments for interest and repayment of loans over other payments
- 195 Attachment of Municipal Fund for recovery of money borrowed from Government
- 196 Power to make regulations
Chapter X: Property and Contracts
Property
- 197 Acquisition of property
- 198 Acquisition of immovable property by agreement
- 199 Procedure when immovable property cannot be acquired by agreement
- 200 Disposal of property
Contracts
Chapter XI: Accounts and Audit
Scrutiny and audit of accounts
- 204 Accounts to be kept
- 205 Scrutiny of accounts by Municipal Chief Auditor and by the Standing Committee
- 206 Report by the Municipal Chief Auditor
- 207 Special audit at the direction of the Central Government
Powers and duties of the Municipal Chief Auditor
Chapter XII: Water Supply, Drainage and Sewage Disposal
General
Water Supply
- 213 Omitted
- 214 Omitted
- 215 Omitted
- 216 Omitted
- 217 Omitted
- 218 Omitted
- 219 Omitted
- 220 Omitted
- 221 Omitted
- 222 Omitted
- 223 Omitted
- 224 Omitted
- 225 Omitted
- 226 Omitted
- 227 Omitted
- 228 Omitted
- 229 Omitted
- 230 Omitted
- 231 Omitted
- 232 Omitted
- 233 Omitted
- 234 Omitted
- 235 Omitted
- 236 Omitted
- 237 Omitted
- 238 Omitted
Drainage and Sewage
- 239 Omitted
- 240 Omitted
- 241 Omitted
- 242 Omitted
- 243 Omitted
- 244 Omitted
- 245 Omitted
- 246 Omitted
- 247 Omitted
- 248 Omitted
Disposal of Sewage
Miscellaneous
Chapter XIII: Electricity Supply
Chapter XIV: Transport Services
Chapter XV: Streets
Construction, maintenance and improvement of streets
- 298 Vesting of public streets in the Corporation
- 299 Functions of Commissioner in respect of public streets
- 300 Disposal of land forming site of public streets permanently closed
- 301 Power to make new public streets
- 302 Minimum width of new public streets
- 303 Power to prohibit use of public streets for certain kind of traffic
- 304 Power to acquire lands and buildings for public streets and for public parking places
- 305 Defining the regular line of streets
- 306 Setting back building to regular line of street
- 307 Compulsory setting back of building to regular line of street
- 308 Acquisition of open land and land occupied by platforms, etc., within the regular line of street
- 309 Acquisition of the remaining part of a building and land after their portions within a regular line of street have been acquired
- 310 Omitted
- 311 Compensation to be paid in certain cases of setting back or setting forward of buildings, etc
- 312 Owner’s obligation when dealing with land as building sites
- 313 Lay-out plans
- 314 Alteration or demolition of street made in breach of section 313
- 315 Power of Commissioner to order work to be carried out or to carry it out himself in default
- 316 Right of owners to require streets to be declared public
Encroachments on streets
- 317 Prohibition of projections upon streets, etc
- 318 Omitted
- 319 Ground floor doors, etc., not to open outwards on streets
- 320 Prohibition of structures or fixtures which cause obstruction in streets
- 321 Prohibition of deposit, etc., of things in streets
- 322 Power to remove anything deposited or exposed for sale in contravention of this Act
- 323 Prohibition of the tethering of animals and milking of cattle
Provision concerning execution of works in or near to streets
- 324 Precautions during repair of streets
- 325 Streets not to be opened or broken up and building materials not to be deposited thereon without permission
- 326 Disposal of things removed under this Chapter
Naming and numbering of streets and numbering of buildings
Repairs or enclosure of dangerous places
Lighting of streets
Chapter XVI: Building Regulations
- 330A General superintendence etc., of the Central Government
- 331 Definition
- 332 Prohibition of building without sanction
- 333 Erection of building
- 334 Applications for additions to, or repairs of, buildings
- 335 Conditions of valid notice
- 336 Sanction or refusal of building or work
- 337 When building or work may be proceeded with
- 338 Sanction accorded under misrepresentation
- 339 Buildings at corners of streets
- 340 Omitted
- 341 Period for completion of building or work
- 342 Prohibition against use of inflammable materials for building, etc., without permission
- 343 Order of demolition and stoppage of buildings and works in certain cases and appeal
- 344 Order of stoppage of buildings or works in certain cases
- 345 Power of Commissioner to require alteration of work
- 345A Power to seal unauthorised constructions
- 346 Completion certificates
- 347 Restrictions on user of buildings
- 347A Appellate Tribunal
- 347B Appeals against certain orders or notices issued under the Act
- 347C Procedure of the Appellate Tribunal
- 347D Appeal against orders of Appellate Tribunal
- 347E Bar of jurisdiction of courts
- 348 Removal of dangerous buildings
- 349 Power to order building to be vacated in certain circumstances
- 349A Power of Central Government to make bye-laws
Chapter XVII: Sanitation and Public Health
Conservancy and sanitation
- 350 Provision for daily cleansing of streets and removal of rubbish and filth
- 351 Rubbish, etc., to be the property of the Corporation
- 352 Provision or appointment of receptacles, depots and places for rubbish, etc
- 353 Duty of owners and occupiers to collect and deposit rubbish, etc
- 354 Collection and removal of filth and polluted matter
- 355 Omitted
- 356 Removal of rubbish, etc., accumulated on premises used as factories, workshops, etc
- 357 Prohibition against accumulation of rubbish, etc
- 358 Commissioner’s power to get premises scavenged and cleansed
- 359 Public latrines, urinals, etc
Latrines and urinals
- 360 Omitted
- 361 Omitted
- 362 Latrines and urinals for labourers, etc
- 363 Provision of latrines and urinals for markets, etc
- 364 Omitted
Removal of congested buildings and buildings unfit for human habitation
- 365 Removal of congested buildings
- 366 Power of Commissioner to require improvement of buildings unfit for human habitation
- 367 Enforcement of notice requiring execution of works of improvement
- 368 Power of Commissioner to order demolition of buildings unfit for human habitation
- 369 Omitted
Regulation of washing by washermen
Prevention of dangerous diseases
- 371 Obligation to give information of dangerous disease
- 372 Removal to hospital of patients suffering from dangerous disease
- 373 Omitted
- 374 Omitted
- 375 Means of disinfection
- 376 Special measures in case of outbreak of dangerous or epidemic diseases
- 377 Omitted
- 378 Omitted
- 379 Driver of conveyance not bound to carry persons suffering from dangerous disease
- 380 Omitted
- 381 Disposal of infected articles without disinfection
- 382 Omitted
- 383 Power to restrict or prohibit sale of food or drink
- 384 Control over wells and tanks, etc
- 385 Omitted
- 386 Disposal of infectious corpses where any person has died from any dangerous disease
Special conditions regarding essential services
Burning and burial grounds
- 389 Power to call for information regarding burning and burial grounds
- 390 Permission for use of new burning or burial ground
- 391 Power to require closing of burning and burial grounds
- 392 Removal of corpses
Disposal of dead animals
Chapter XVIII: Vital Statistics
Chapter XIX: Public Safety and Suppression of Nuisances
Nuisances
Dogs
Chapter XX: Markets, Slaughter Houses, Trade and Occupations
Maintenance and regulation of markets and slaughter houses
- 405 Provisions of municipal markets and slaughter houses
- 406 Use of municipal markets
- 407 Private markets and slaughter houses
- 408 Conditions of grant of licence for private market
- 409 Omitted
- 410 Omitted
- 411 Omitted
- 412 Levy of stallages, rents and fees
- 413 Stallages, rents, etc., to be published
- 414 Omitted
- 415 Butcher's, fish-monger's and poulter's licence
- 416 Factory, etc., not to be established without permission of the Commissioner
- 417 Premises not to be used for certain purposes without licence
- 418 Seizure of certain animals
- 419 Power of Commissioner to prevent use of premises in particular areas for purposes referred to in section 417
- 420 Licences for hawking articles, etc
- 421 Eating houses, etc., not to be used without licence from the Commissioner
- 422 Licensing and control of theatres, circuses and places of public amusement
- 423 Power of Commissioner to stop use of premises used in contravention of licences
- 424 Power of Commissioner to inspect places where unlawful slaughter of animals, etc., is suspected
Chapter XXI: Improvement
- 425 Improvement scheme
- 426 Matters to be provided for in an improvement scheme
- 427 Submission of improvement scheme to the Corporation for approval and to the Central Government for sanction
- 428 Rehousing scheme
- 429 Improvement scheme and rehousing scheme to comply with the master plan and zonal development plan
Chapter XXII: Powers, Procedure, Offences and Penalties
Licences and written permissions
Entry and inspection
- 431 Powers of entry and inspection
- 432 Power to enter land adjoining land in relation to any work
- 433 Breaking into buildings
- 434 Time of making entry
- 435 Consent ordinarily to be obtained
- 436 Regard to be had to social or religious usages
- 437 Prohibition of obstruction in execution of work
Public notices and advertisements
- 438 Public notices how to be made known
- 439 Newspaper in which advertisements or notices to be published
Evidence
- 440 Proof of consent etc., of Commissioner, General Managers, etc
- 441 Notices, etc., to fix reasonable time
- 442 Signature on notices, etc., may be stamped
- 443 Notices, etc., by whom to be served or issued
- 444 Service of notices, etc
- 445 Service of bills for tax or notice of demand by ordinary post
- 446 Powers in case of non-compliance with notice, etc
Recovery of expenses
- 447 Liability of occupier to pay in default of owner
- 448 Execution of work by occupier in default of owner and deduction of expenses from rent
- 449 Relief to agents and trustees
Payment of compensation
- 450 General power to pay compensation
- 451 Compensation to be paid by offenders for damage caused by them
Recovery of expenses or compensation in case of dispute
- 452 Reference to the court of the district judge in certain cases
- 453 Application to the Court of the district judge in other cases
- 454 Power to sue for expenses or compensation
Recovery of certain dues
Obstruction of owner by occupier
Proceedings before the court of the district judge
- 457 General powers and procedure of the court of the district judge
- 458 Fees in proceedings before the court of the district judge
- 459 Repayment of half fees on settlement before hearing
- 460 Power of the court of the district judge to delegate certain powers and to make rules
Offences and penalties
- 461 Penalty for certain violations
- 462 Punishment for acquiring share or interest in contract, etc., with the Corporation
- 463 Punishment for offences relating to terminal tax
- 464 Penalty for evasion of terminal taxes
- 465 Omitted
- 466 Offences by companies
- 466A Omitted
- 467 Prosecutions
- 468 Composition of offences
- 468A Adjudication of penalties
- 468B Appeal
Magistrates and proceedings before magistrates
- 469 Municipal magistrates
- 470 Cognizance of offences
- 471 Limitation of time for prosecution
- 472 Power of magistrate to hear cases in absence of accused when summoned to appear
- 473 Complaints concerning nuisances and procedure therefor
Powers and duties of police officers
Legal proceedings
Chapter XXIII: Rules, Regulations and Bye-Laws
- 479 Supplemental provisions respecting rules
- 480 Supplemental provisions respecting regulations
- 481 Power to make bye-laws
- 481A Regulations and bye-laws to be laid before Parliament
- 482 Penalty for breaches of bye-laws
- 483 Supplemental provisions respecting bye-laws
- 484 Bye-laws to be available for inspection and purchase
- 484A Omitted
Chapter XXIV: Control
- 485 Power of Central Government to require production of documents
- 486 Inspection
- 487 Directions by Central Government
- 488 Power to provide for enforcement of direction under section 487
- 489 Power of Government to give directions in relation to primary schools, etc
- 490 Dissolution of the Corporation
Chapter XXV: Miscellaneous
- 490A Delegation of power by the Central Government
- 490B Delegation of power by the Government
- 491 Power to delegate functions of Commissioner
- 492 Validity of notices and other documents
- 493 Admissibility of document or entry as evidence
- 494 Evidence of Municipal officer or employee
- 495 Prohibition against obstruction of Mayor or any municipal authority, etc
- 496 Prohibition against removal of mark
- 497 Prohibition against removal or obliteration of notice
- 498 Prohibition against unauthorised dealings with public place or materials
- 499 Liability of Commissioner, etc., for loss, waste or mis-application of Municipal Fund or property
- 500 Councillors and municipal officers and employees to be public servants
- 501 Annual administration report
- 502 Other laws not to be disregarded
- 503 Exemption of diplomatic or consular missions from payment of tax etc
- 504 Construction of references
- 505 Repealed
- 506 Repealed
- 507 Special provisions as to rural areas
- 508 Special provisions as to Red Fort area
- 508A Corporation to undertake work on agency basis
Chapter XXVI: Supplemental and Transitional Provisions
- 509 Repealed
- 510 Provisions relating to existing local authorities in Delhi till the establishment of the Corporation
- 511 Provisions as to employees of bodies and local authorities whose functions are taken over by the Corporation
- 511A Temporary provision with respect to electricity, water, sewage, etc
- 511B Special provision as to transferred functions
- 512 Special provisions as to the area transferred from New Delhi to Delhi
- 513 Expenditure in connection with the Municipal Affairs from the commencement of this Act to the adoption of the budget by a Corporation
- 514 Limits of New Delhi Municipality
- 514A Appointment of Special Officer
- 514AA Transitional provisions
- 515 Power to remove difficulties
- 516 Repeal, etc., and savings
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.