Land dispute: Give fresh hearing to pharma firm: HC to BMC

The judges also noted that such an action of the authority could have an adverse impact on the reputation of the firm. The court has now directed it to arrive at an appropriate decision after hearing all parties in the matter.

GlaxoSmithKline had moved the court to challenge an order passed by the BMC in 2009. Through the order,the corporation had refused permission to them to transfer and develop a portion of land in Worli by leasing it to another company — a realty firm named I-Ven Realty.

However,the company claimed that it had not been given a hearing in the matter and said that the corporation had acted in an arbitrary manner.

In an earlier hearing,court had asked the corporation not to be discriminatory in its policy with respect to land disputes,and noted that it appeared to be acting like a court.

According to the petitioners,the land had first been leased to the realty firm in 2004,by paying a premium of Rs 7.53 crore to the corporation.

Later,the corporation sent a notice to GSK,informing them that the premium has been increased by 50 per cent. However,the notice was later stayed by the High Court.