New Delhi: Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre (EHIRC) today moved the Supreme Court against the Delhi Development Authority's notice to vacate the land allotted to it for alleged violation of provisions of lease deed.

DDA had sought eviction on the grounds that the charitable hospital had violated the terms and conditions of the lease deed according to which it was to provide free beds to 25 percent of the patients, and was not to sub-let it.

EHIRC counsels Arun Jaitley and Sanjeev Puri sought stay on the eviction proceedings initiated by the Estate Officer against the charitable hospital under the Public Premises (Eviction and Unauthorised occupants) Act.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan refused to grant a stay while posting the matter for hearing on October 29. The building was never given on lease to the hospital by the DDA and the Estate Officer had no right to initiate proceedings, EHIRC stated.

The Delhi High Court in September this year had dismissed EHIRC's petition challenging the Estate Officer s notice issued in October 2005, asking why eviction orders should not be passed against it in respect of 6.9 acres of land as the hospital authorities had violated the lease terms.

The High court had also rejected the hospital s plea that DDA should have filed a civil suit for taking back the possession of the land instead of conducting proceedings under the Act.

Source : PTI