NATIONAL WELFARE SOCIETY REGD , GALI FIRE BRIGADE, MAHAN SINGH GATE, AMRITSAR AND ORS Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Public Interest Litigation has been filed for quashing a resolution of the Municipal Corporation, Amritsar dated 05.02.2010 (Annexure P6) and the agreement dated 12/13.05.2010 (Annexure P8) by and between the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Amritsar and the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board. According to the petitioner, the aforesaid resolution and agreement reflect a decision with regard to shifting of the office of the Municipal Corporation from the Town Hall and to convert the Town Hall, after renovation, into a heritage hotel. The proposed move, according to the petitioner, ought not to be permitted as the Town Hall is a historic building with all its splendour and glory and needs to be preserved as such.

(2.) The respondent No. 8, acting through the Superintending Engineer, has filed a written statement dated 17.01.2012 wherein it is, inter-alia, stated that the renovation of the building has to be carried out in view of the age of the same and once the renovation/conservation work is over the same would be used to provide facilities of a museum, library, tourist office etc. In the aforesaid written statement, the Municipal Corporation has specifically denied that there is any move to convert the Town Hall, after renovation, into a hotel.

(3.) The precise stand of the Municipal Corporation as available in the written statement may be extracted below:-