Decision to confer benefit must be based on sound policy: HC

The state government and its agencies can not give largesse or confer benefit to any person or company according to their sweet will and whims of political entities, the Bombay High Court said while directing inquiry against Hotel Tunga Regency in Navi Mumbai.
A division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A P Bhangale ordered for the inquiry while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Vashi-based activist Sandeep Thakur questioning the legality of the parking arrangement for the hotel.
According to Thakur, the parking facility has been made on an adjoining plot owned by CIDCO, which was originally reserved for public parking.

Observing that there was material to indicate that Tunga Regency Hotel has violated requirement of Development Control Regulation by not providing adequate number of parking spaces for public, the bench directed a competent authority of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation to inquire into the violations and submit a report by June 13.
The authority shall test the validity of all permissions granted in favour of the hotel.
"The state or its agencies cannot give largesse to any person according to their sweet will or whims of political entities and officers of the state. Every decision to confer benefit must be founded on a sound, transparent, discernible and well-defined policy," the bench observed.