Tata's Taj Hotels loses bid to extend lease on iconic Delhi site

Mumbai

THE Delhi High Court rejected a plea by Indian Hotels Co to extend the lease on an iconic New Delhi hotel, adding to the company's woes just days after Cyrus Mistry was ousted as chairman of parent Tata Sons Ltd.

A two-member bench - Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Pratibha Rani - upheld a single-judge bench order that Indian Hotels was not entitled to oppose an auction by the New Delhi Municipal Council, which owns the property that is located on Mansingh Road and overlooks India's presidential palace. Indian Hotels - which runs the Taj group of hotels - had leased the land for 33 years, and the lease ended in 2011.