TNN | Dec 11, 2015, 07.13 AM IST
AHMEDABAD: The Supreme Court has stayed the Gujarat high court's order by
which the Taj Group's luxury resort which falls in the Gir sanctuary ,
the last abode of the Asiatic lion, was sealed.
With the stay on the HC order, Hotel Taj Gateway can now start
functioning, at least till the final decision by the apex court on the
issue. This hotel was closed during a sealing drive carried out in
March-April at the high court's instance because most hospitality units
around Gir sanctuary were functioning in gross violation of the
eco-tourism policy . The HC refused to un-seal it when the hotel
management approached it on April 13. They hence moved the apex court.
Experts believe the SC's intervention and relief to the luxury resort
run by Indian Hotels Company Ltd has paved the way for other hospitality
units facing action for violation of norms to also seek redress. They
may approach the high court citing the SC order and claim relief by
requesting the court to direct authorities to remove the seals on
numerous rooms in guest houses across three districts. When the HC was
intimated about the apex court's order, the division bench of Acting
Chief Justice Jayant Patel and V M Pancholi asked additional advocate
general Prakash Jani to find out whether the proceedings should be
stalled till the SC reaches a final conclusion in this case. The HC has
deferred proceedings till next month. In this case, the Centre gave land
to the state government in 1971. This particular plot was leased to
Gujarat tourism. The hotel group got a 20-year lease in 1994 and the
hotel was constructed. The lease was renewed last year. However, the
mandatory permission from the National Board of Wildlife was not
obtained and hence the forest department did not issue an NOC to operate
the hotel inside the sanctuary.
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