SC issues notices to Centre & ITPO in Appu Ghar case

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre and India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) asking them to explain whether the dispute regarding allotment of land in possession of International Amusement Limited (IAL) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) can be settled through arbitration or by an estate officer.

A bench comprising Justices Dr Arijit Pasayat and D K Jain issued notices confined only to the issue of resolution of dispute either through arbitration or by a competent authority namely estate officer.

Both SCBA and IAL, the company running amusement park at Pragati Maidan populary known as Appu Ghar, has challenged Delhi High Court judgement dated July 7, 2007 removing sole arbitrator Justice S Ranganathan, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, for resolving the issue between SCBA, Appu Ghar, ITPO and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The government has allotted 12.1 acres of land to SCBA for construction of the lawyers chambers at Pragati Maidan and land has also been allotted to DMRC which has forced the closure of amusement park which is extremely popular in Delhi and even in the neighbouring areas.

Owners of the Appu Ghar have also challenged the allotment of land to SCBA and DMRC. Both SCBA and IAL in their petitions have contended that Delhi High Court has committed an error by removing the sole arbitrator appointed by the learned single judge of the same High Court.

UNI