IHCL challenges HC order allowing Taj Mansingh’s auction

New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed New Delhi Municipal Council not to any take action against the Taj Mansingh Hotel, while hearing a plea of the Tata group-run Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), which runs the luxury property, challenging a single judge order upholding its auction.

During a brief hearing, a bench of Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Pratibha Rani told IHCL that the NDMC will have give it notice before any action and will not take action overnight.

The bench asked the NDMC not to take any action against the hotel and fixed the matter for further hearing on September 15.

On Monday, a single judge had dismissed the suit by the current operator, IHCL, to renew its licence and upheld the NDMC's decision to go for auction. On Tuesday IHCL filed an appeal before the division bench against this order.

The property, owned by NDMC, was given to IHCL on a lease for 33 years, which had ended in 2011 and it has been managing the property since, on several extensions it has got. The IHCL in 2013 filed a civil suit against the civic body in the Delhi High Court after it decided to auction the property.