Summary
The Supreme Court upheld a premium demand for a slum rehabilitation scheme on public land. The developers’ 2005 letter of intent was valid for only three months and had not been kept alive while coastal clearance was pending. They therefore remained liable under the Government Resolution of 16 April 2008 requiring premium at 25% of the Ready Reckoner value; delay in coastal clearance did not preserve the expired letter.
Issues
- Whether a three-month letter of intent issued before the premium requirement exempted the scheme when that letter had not been kept alive.
Held
- The letter of intent expressly lasted three months unless the stipulated building approval or commencement certificate was obtained. The appellants had not kept it alive and could have sought appropriate relief or representation despite the delay in coastal clearance. (¶¶ 8, 10, 11)
- The Government Resolution required developers or cooperative societies undertaking slum rehabilitation on Government, semi-government or local-body land to pay premium at 25% of Ready Reckoner value. With the earlier letter no longer alive, the demand complied with that requirement. (¶¶ 9, 11, 12)
Result
Civil appeals dismissed, upholding the premium demand and the High Court’s dismissal of the writ and review petitions. No order as to costs.