The Bench, headed by Justice M M Kumar, allowed the petition of the James Plaza owner and quashed the order dated May 3, 2007, wherein former UT Advisor Lalit Sharma had given it year’s time for completion.

The delay of five-and-half-months caused by the UT Administration in sanctioning the revised building plan went in the favour of James Plaza. The Bench, thus, granted the time (five-and-half-months) to the petitioner along with additional six months to complete the construction. The owner is, however, liable to pay the extension fee as per rules.

The hotel site in Sector 17, where Hotel James Plaza is under construction, was resumed for the third time by the UT Estate Office in May last year. The site has been mired in controversies ever since its allotment. The site worth about Rs 200 crore is lying unused in the city’s most prime sector ¿ Sector 17 ¿ for the last over two decades. In 1985, Mehfil Hotels had purchased the site for Rs 83.50 lakh. In 1986, the lease deed was signed. The site was later resumed on the ground of “non-payment of the balance amount”.