HC to hear AJL’s plea tomorrow

| | New Delhi
  • 0

HC to hear AJL’s plea tomorrow

Wednesday, 14 November 2018 | PNS | New Delhi

The Delhi High Court Tuesday said there is no urgency in the plea of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of the National Herald newspaper, against the Centre's order asking it to vacate its headquarters Herald House by November 15. Justice Sunil Gaur said it will hear the AJL's plea on November 15. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also refused to stay the Income Tax department's order to re-assess the tax returns of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and posted case for hearing on December 4.

The National Herald publishing company Associated Journals Limited (AJL) approached the High Court on Monday challenging the October 30 order of the Urban Development Ministry, ending its 56-year-old lease and asking it to vacate the premises on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg here.  Advocate Sunil Fernandes, appearing for the AJL, said there was urgency in the matter as they have been asked to hand over the possession to the Centre by November 15 and they had received the order of the Land and Development Office (L&DO) on October 30 after which the courts were closed for vacation.

The Central Government's Standing Counsel Rajesh Gogna said they are initiating the process and if AJL does not hand over the possession of the premises to them they will re-enter.  The court, which was fixing the matter for hearing in December, listed it for November 15 after the AJL's counsel insisted on an early hearing.  "There is no urgency. They are not going to enter forcibly. Right now they will take the possession only on paper," the court said.

The Supreme Court fixed December 4 for final arguments in the petitions filed by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi challenging the Delhi High Court's order related to a case of re-opening of their 2011-12 tax assessments. The high court had refused to give them relief in the case, giving the opportunity to the Income Tax (I-T) Department to scrutinise their records.

Senior advocates P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal and Arvind Datar appeared for the Congress leaders in the Apex Court said the case was politically motivated and based on the complaints of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.  Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the I-T  department, said the premise raised by the Gandhis and Fernandes is wrong.

After a brief hearing, a bench comprising justices AK Sikri and SA Abdul Nazeer said, "Since the respondent (I-T department) has put in appearance, we are not issuing a formal notice. However, we are fixing the matter for final arguments on December 4."

Sunday Edition

CAA PASSPORT TO FREEDOM

24 March 2024 | Kumar Chellappan | Agenda

CHENNAI EXPRESS IN GURUGRAM

24 March 2024 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

The Way of Bengal

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

The Pizza Philosopher

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

Astroturf | Lord Shiva calls for all-inclusiveness

24 March 2024 | Bharat Bhushan Padmadeo | Agenda

Interconnected narrative l Forest conservation l Agriculture l Food security

24 March 2024 | BKP Sinha/ Arvind K jha | Agenda