A day after the Delhi High Court verdict against Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of the National Herald newspaper to vacant its headquarters, Herald House, in the national Capital within two weeks, the Congress on Saturday said it will appeal against the order even as it exuded confidence that they will get full justice in the Supreme Court.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the court findings are not final and the party is within its right to appeal against it.
The Delhi High Court on Friday ordered Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of Congress mouth piece the National Herald, to vacate within two weeks its premises here, holding there was no mala fide in the Centre’s eviction order.
Earlier, Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill said, “The High Court order has come. It is a legal case and the Congress and other parties involved in the case have a constitutional right to appeal, which we will exercise. We have a very strong case in AJL and there is nothing illegal or against the law in the case and we are confident of getting complete justice in the higher court.”
“The court’s findings and observationare not final. The parties have all rights to appeal against the court findings. The final finding is of the Supreme Court of India. We are confident that since we have a strong case and on the basis of facts and evidence, the final victory will be of the AJL,” he added.
The Centre and Land and Development Office (L&DO) have said in their order that no Press has been
functioning on the premises for at least past 10 years and it was being used only for commercial purposes in violation of the lease deed. AJL had denied the allegations in the petition filed in the High Court.
After the Delhi High Court order, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs issued an statement saying that it was also
observed that instead of using the land given to AJL for Press purpose, they are earning a “huge sum of money by renting out almost the entire building except one floor which has negated the purpose for which the land was originally allotted”.
