New Delhi: Delhi High Court has restrained authorities from taking any coercive action against Le Meridien hotel at Janpath that has sought to renew its eating house and lodging licences. In a recent order, HC directed Delhi police’s licensing wing to process the application of the hotel for renewal of the ‘Eating House Licence‘ and ‘Lodging Licence‘.
The plea stated that the hotel’s health trade licence was cancelled in 2017 and when it challenged the authorities’ decision, HC granted relief by staying its revocation.
Taking note of the submissions, HC issued notice to joint commissioner of police (licensing) and other authorities on the petition of the hotel, which is aggrieved by the refusal or inaction on the part of the authorities in renewing its eating house and lodging licences. HC granted four weeks’ time to the authorities to file their replies and listed the matter for further hearing on Aug 5.
“The respondent nos. 1 and 2 (police authorities) are directed to process the petitioners’ application for renewal of the eating house and lodging licences without insisting on a health trade licence. Further, in the meantime, till the next date of hearing, respondents are restrained from taking any coercive action against the petitioners,” it said.
The hotel sought a court direction to restrain the agency concerned from asking it to furnish the health trade licence as its license already existed.
It submitted that for serving alcoholic beverages and running the restaurant, the hotel management was required to obtain valid eating house and lodging licences.
The petitioners said the authorities were insisting on producing a valid health trade licence from New Delhi Municipal Council as a pre-condition for renewing its eating house licence, lodging licence and excise licence.
It argued that the portal of police authorities reflected non-renewal of the hotel’s licences only over a health trade licence, which was already under challenge in high court.