Centaur Hotel sealed by government after taking it over
By: Tariq Shah VOV
Srinagar
The government of Jammu and Kashmir has sealed the Centaur Hotel on the banks of Dal Lake after it accused Hotel Corporation of India of violating the conditions of these agreements.
The Tehsildar concerned has said that they will not allow anyone to enter the hotel and action would be taken if there is any violation. This move of the J&K government will render 160 employees of Centaur Hotel jobless.
They have appealed to the J&K government to own them as employees of the hotel and not of the hotel corporation of India.
Meanwhile KNO on Wednesday has said in its news report about the Centaur Hotel as follows.
According to the documents, a prior notice was served to the employees of the Centaur Hotel here in Srinagar, asking them to vacate the premises within 45 days from the date of issuing the eviction notice.
The notice was served to Centaur Hotel employees on 25-04-2022.
As per the notice, the J-K Government has charged the Hotel Corporation of India of violating conditions of the lease agreement by subletting the Hotel to a third party.
It is pertinent to mention that in pursuant to the cabinet decision No. 237 dated 25.06.1979, the then State Government vide Govt order No.118 of 1981 dated 17.10.1981 leased out a piece of land measuring 13 acres to the Hotel Corporation of India Pvt. Ltd. for a period of 99 years and accordingly a lease agreement was executed on 10.03.1982.
The terms and conditions in the agreement stipulated that the ownership rights over the structure on the land shall be equally held by the parties, the use whereof shall be determined by the parties by mutual undertakings and it was also agreed that for matters not covered by the agreement the laws of the J-K State will apply.
Meanwhile, the government has taken over the Centaur Hotel this evening and sealed the gates of the building.
However, many employees of Centaur Hotel are refusing to leave the premises of the Hotel after the government decided to seal the building.
“The decision would render 160 employees jobless. We are not against the move, but the employees should also be owned by those who are going to take over the hotel, ” said Fayaz Ahmad, president of Centaur Hotel Employees Union.
Pertinently, an order issued by Tehsildar concerned reads that it is hereby informed that the Centaur Lake View Hotel, Srinagar has been sealed today on 14th June, 2022, under J-K Public premises (eviction of unauthorised occupants Act, 1988) before me under me seal and signature. ” Therefore, no one is allowed to enter the main gate till further orders otherwise stern action shall be taken under prevalent law,” it reads.
With KNO inputs
