SC gives Appu Ghar 3 days deadline

NEW DELHI: The last nail in Appu Ghar's coffin was driven on Wednesday in the Supreme Court. The court asked its owner, International Amusement Ltd, to surrender the land within three days even as Delhi Development Authority refused any alternative site for its relocation. The joy rides at Appu Ghar, which enthralled lakhs of children during its over two-decade-long existence which was ground to a halt on January 31, 2008, would now be shifted out latest by May 15. A Bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat, P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam directed IAL to surrender the 12.19 acre of land to India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and the Land and Development Officer within three days. It also asked the owners of Appu Ghar to shift out all the joy rides and super structures from the land within three weeks. The land has already been allotted to the Supreme Court for an auditorium and other judiciary-related structures as also to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to expand the Pragati Maidan Station. Appearing for IAL, Pratibha Singh requested the court to hear its plea for an alternative site for relocation of the amusement park, which had been in operation since 1982. DDA has filed an affidavit saying that the sites suggested by IAL for relocation of Appu Ghar were not permissible under law. "The request of Appu Ghar for allotment of land as alternate site cannot be considered and Appu Ghar may be advised to participate in tender/auction whenever public notice is issued by DDA," it said in the affidavit. When Singh wanted a hearing on this issue, the court, while observing that relocation was not an issue related to surrender of land by Appu Ghar, kept the hearing for Monday. Though the lease for allotment of land to IAL had expired long ago, possession could not be given to SC and DMRC as Appu Ghar managed to survive on litigational oxygen, which was cut off by the apex court in January.

24 Apr 2008, 0222 hrs IST
THE TIMES OF INDIA