Ambassador Hotel – Delhi High Court Seeks Centre’s Reply on Eviction Notice

Ambassador Hotel –The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Central government and the Land and Development Office after Ambassador Hotel challenged an eviction notice concerning its premises at Sujan Singh Park in the capital.

Court issues notice to government authorities

Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar issued notice on the petition filed by Sir Sobha Singh & Sons Private Limited, the company that owns Ambassador Hotel. The court asked the Centre and the L&DO to submit their replies to the challenge raised by the hotel operator.

The matter relates to an eviction process initiated under the Public Premises Act. The company has questioned the legality of the action and requested judicial intervention before the proceedings move ahead.

Petition concerns Sujan Singh Park land

According to the petition, the disputed property covers about 7.58 acres at Sujan Singh Park (North). The land includes the Ambassador Hotel building along with a number of residential flats located within the same premises.

The eviction notice was issued on June 11. The company has argued that it has remained in continuous possession of the property since 1943 and that the current proceedings should not be allowed to continue.

Company challenges authority of Estate Officer

Sir Sobha Singh & Sons Private Limited has also raised objections to the jurisdiction of the Estate Officer handling the matter. It has maintained that the officer does not have the authority to begin eviction proceedings in relation to the property.

The petition seeks cancellation of the notice and a stay on further action under the Public Premises Act. The company has described the notice as unlawful and said the proceedings were initiated without properly examining its position.

Claim of limited opportunity to present documents

In its plea, the hotel owner alleged that the Estate Officer did not adequately consider the submissions already placed before the office. It further claimed that the company was not given a proper opportunity to submit supporting documents relevant to its case.

The company has argued that such procedural issues affected its ability to present its full case before the authority. It has asked the High Court to halt the eviction process until its objections are examined.

Property dispute to be heard further

The High Court’s notice means the Centre and the L&DO will now have to place their stand before the court. The matter is expected to proceed after the government authorities file their responses.

The case concerns a prominent property in central Delhi and will focus on questions related to possession, jurisdiction and the validity of the eviction action. The court has not made any final observation on the merits of the company’s claims at this stage.