SC directs status quo till July 18 on NOIDA land allotment

New Delhi, Jul 9 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed Noida Development Authority and Uttar Pradesh government to maintain status quo till July 18 in respect of the possession of land allotted for the construction of hotels in Noida for 2010 Commonwealth Games.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and J M Panchal issued the status quo order when the petition filed by ITC Limited was mentioned before the court for urgent hearing since the allotment of land has been cancelled by the Mayawati government.

The petitioner Ashutosh Srivastava appearing in person pleaded against the stay order alleging that land worth Rs 8,000 crore has been given away to the big hoteliers at throwaway prices by the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav government.

In all 14 hotels are to be constructed on the land allotted by the previous government for 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Senior counsel Anil Diwan and Harish Salve appeared for the petitioner.

The apex court will hear the petition on July 18.

UNI SC NY RP PM1502