New Delhi, Jan. 12 -- The Delhi High Court has set aside a 2010 order directing conversion of leasehold land into freehold in favour of National Cold Storage & Refrigeration Pvt Ltd, holding that the Union government cannot be compelled to part with ownership of public land under the leasehold-to-freehold conversion policy.

In a detailed common judgement disposing of several Letters Patent Appeals and a connected writ petition, the Division Bench examined the nature of the 1951 lease, the scope of the government's right of resumption, the applicability of the Land Acquisition Act, and whether the lessee had an enforceable right to freehold conversion.

The Court noted that the land was held under a purpose-specific lease granted for oper...