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Expired Metro Licenses: Businesses Lose Kolkata Shop Battle
28 Aug
Summary
- Businesses occupied Metro Railway shops after licenses expired.
- Calcutta High Court denied businesses right to continue occupation.
- Eviction orders for three businesses at Tollygunge metro station upheld.
The Calcutta High Court has upheld an order evicting three businesses from shops at Tollygunge metro station. These businesses had occupied the premises for years after their licenses, initially granted in 1994 and renewed until 2005, had expired. The businesses' plea for long-term licenses was rejected due to catering policy restrictions.
Challenging their eviction, the businesses argued they had operated for many years and claimed discriminatory treatment, citing instances of 35-year leases at other stations. However, Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee ruled that continued occupation after license expiry does not confer a right to possession.
The court permitted the businesses to approach the appellate authority within four weeks. It directed the authority to consider their appeals despite any delay. Additionally, the court ordered a correction of a typographical error in charges from 'per square foot' to 'per square meter' and a recalculation of fees since 2005.
