HC tells Gujarat to also seal big illegal hotels in Gir

Manas Dasgupta

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Ahmedabad, April 14

The Gujarat Government has been forced to initiate action against some hotel chains, including the Taj group, allegedly operating within the buffer zone of the restricted Gir lions sanctuary, the only abode of Asiatic lions, in the Saurashtra region of the state. 

A Division Bench of the Gujarat High Court has directed the state government to seal all the illegal hospitality units without making any exceptions about the major groups and their business prospects. The order was issued after the owners of small hotels, which had been sealed under an earlier high court order, approached the high court.

They pointed out that no action was being initiated against luxury resorts running under big banners though they did not have the necessary no-objection certificate (NOC) of the National Board of Wildlife and the State Forest Department.

They provided a list of seven luxury hotels of reputed brands to the high court. 

The court had on April 1 asked the state government to check if Forest Department NOCs were taken and if not, give them 14 days to wind up their business. 

A Division Bench comprising Justices Jayant Patel and GB Shah refused to entertain any argument that the major hotels were running full capacity. “The people would laugh at the judiciary that it cannot reach the mighty if any discrimination was allowed between small and big chains,” the Bench said.