Delhi High Court seeks centre’s stand on Ambassador Hotel eviction proceedings

The Delhi High Court sought the Centre’s response on a plea filed by the owner of the iconic Ambassador Hotel challenging a show-cause notice issued for eviction from its 7.58-acre property at Sujan Singh Park.

Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar issued notice to the central government on the petition filed by Sir Sobha Singh and Sons Private Limited and granted three weeks to submit its reply.

The petitioner's counsel told the court that there was an apprehension that an eviction order could be passed on July 10, when the matter was scheduled before the estate officer. The counsel requested the court to direct the officer to first decide whether the proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, were maintainable.

However, the court declined to intervene in the ongoing proceedings, observing that the estate officer was a statutory authority and would take decisions according to the law.

The Centre opposed the plea, stating that the proceedings before the estate officer were being conducted as per legal provisions and that the matter was listed for hearing on the company’s applications.

The petition challenges a show-cause notice issued on June 11 by the Land and Development Office under the Public Premises Act, asking why the company should not be evicted from the premises known as Sujan Singh Park (North).

The company has argued that it is not an unauthorised occupant and that the estate officer does not have jurisdiction to initiate eviction proceedings. It claimed that it holds a registered government grant issued in 1945 and has been in possession of the property for over eight decades.

The petitioner also contended that the eviction proceedings were initiated while a related legal dispute remains pending before the High Court. The matter will next be heard on August 17.