Housing Secy gets contempt notice for delaying theme park file for 6 years

It noted that the official failed to act on its orders passed in December 2010 and subsequently in 2016. The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar, said “Let statutory notice be issued to contemnor Dharmendra Pratap Yadav as to why he should not be proceeded against and punished in accordance with law for wilful disobedience of the orders of the court.”

As per the case, New Kenilworth Hotel Private Limited in Kolkatta, made an application on August 29, 1994 for taking on lease a portion of the 25.19 acre allotted for setting up an Amusement Theme Park in Vilankurichi village in Coimbatore. In October, the same year, the TN Corporation for Development of Women allotted the company five acres on lease for 33 years. But as the authorities concerned created several hurdles the matter went to the High Court.  

A single judge and a division bench on December 3, 2010 dismissed the appeals of the authorities and directed them to issue all necessary approvals and enable the company to start construction of a star hotel as per the lease deed. 

Subsequently, even after the Supreme Court dismissed a couple of special leave petitions moved by the state and there being no progress, the company filed the present contempt petitions to punish the secretaries of Social Welfare and Revenue depts, Coimbatore Collector and the member-secretary of Local Planning Authority besides the MD, Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Ltd.

However, when the matter came up on January 20 last, the bench was told that the file was being detained by Yadav. Based on the submission, the bench said there is no point in proceeding at this stage against the 5 persons cited as respondents, removed them and instead impleaded Yadav as the sixth respondent. Also, the bench directed Yadav to file his reply within three weeks.