HC notice to govt on cancelling Bharat Scout lease on building

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Centre on a petition claiming that the government has "arbitrarily" cancelled the lease of Delhi State Bharat Scout Guide on a building and alloted it to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Centre on a petition claiming that the government has "arbitrarily" cancelled the lease of Delhi State Bharat Scout Guide on a building and alloted it to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

HT Image

Justice S Muralidhar also issued the notice to the Land and Development Office (L&DO) and the ASI and sought their response by March 8.

Meanwhile, the court stayed the government's order cancelling the lease and re-allotting the property to ASI and said status quo will be maintained till further orders.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Bharat Scout Guide challenging the February 12 order of the Centre permitting the ASI to take over the possession of the premises near the historic Humayun Tomb in Nizamuddin East.

Some part of the DSBSG office was sealed in 2007 due to alleged unauthorised construction following an inspection report submitted by the Supreme Court Monitoring committee set up by the court to look into illegal construction in the city.

The petitioner's counsel R K Saini argued that despite several representations to the government for de-sealing of the premises, the government has "discriminately and illegally" alloted the property to ASI.