70-year Ambassador Hotel ownership row reaches HC; owners challenge eviction notice

A nearly seven-decade-old ownership dispute involving Delhi’s iconic Ambassador Hotel has now reached the Delhi High Court, with the hotel owners challenging an eviction notice issued by the Central Government under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.

Sir Sobha Singh & Sons Private Limited, which owns the hotel, has challenged the June 9, 2026, decision of the appellate court that overturned a 2009 trial court decree, which had upheld the company’s claim over the property. According to the company, the Land and Development Officer (L&DO) issued an eviction notice on June 11, just two days after the appellate court ruling. 

Justice Tejas Karia heard the matter on June 17 and admitted the appeal against the appellate court order.

Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi appeared for the company and argued that there is an imminent threat of eviction in view of the notice issued by the Government. He also asked the Court for a stay on the notice.

Central Government Standing Counsel (CGSC) Ashish Dixit appeared for the Government and argued that the notice under the PP Act is independent of the judgment of the appellate court and deals only with the alleged unauthorised occupation. The matter will be heard next on July 23.

The dispute concerns the northern block of Sujan Singh Park, next to Khan Market in Delhi. The Ambassador Hotel and some flats were developed by the appellant company on two plots of land, around 7.58 acres each, allotted by the Government of India in 1943. According to the company, under a 1945 agreement to lease, the Government promised a perpetual lease upon completion of the project.

The company claims that the Government approved and participated in the construction, including the hotel block.

However, in 1959, the Government alleged misuse because of the construction of the hotel block and, in 1960, purportedly re-entered the entire land.