The Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Gujarat High Court order that directed the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Surat to auction the land allegedly misappropriated for the construction and running of a 5-star hotel.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala passed the order on Friday on a batch of SLPs filed by APMC and Hotel Shilpi Private Limited challenging an interim order of the High Court.
The Bench observed that the High Court was correct in directing such an auction for the land allotted to be utilised for making a district market yard.
“How can the Agriculture Produce Market Committee construct a five-star hotel on the land meant for constructing market yards for agricultural products?”, CJI asked.
“Thank God! The High Court intervened! This is a scam… The government may be a willing accomplice,” the CJI said