Relief for Congress as Supreme Court stays eviction proceeding of National Herald building

In a big relief to the Congress party, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Delhi High Court order asking the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) to vacate the National Herald House building - now owned by Young India.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also issued a notice to Land and Development Office on an appeal of Associated Journal Ltd (AJL) against the High Court order.

Supreme Court stays Delhi High Court order of February 28 which ordered vacation of 'Herald House'. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also issues notice to Land and Development Office on an appeal of Associated Journal Ltd against the High Court order. pic.twitter.com/HebPrGUNiP

— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes are majority shareholders of Young India which acquired AJL's 90 crore laon liability to All India Congress Committee on a mere payment of Rs 50 lakhs.

Earlier in February, the Delhi High Court dismissed National Herald publisher AJL's plea challenging a single judge order to vacate its premises at ITO.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao rejected the appeal of Associated Journals Ltd in which it had challenged the Centre's decision asking it to vacate the ITO premises.

AJL had appealed against the single judge's December 21, 2018 order that directed it to vacate the premises at ITO within two weeks, after which eviction proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, would be initiated.

The single judge had also said that by transfer of AJL's 99 per cent shares to Young India (YI), the beneficial interest of AJL's property worth Rs 413.40 crore stands "clandestinely" transferred to YI.

In its order, the single judge had said that AJL has been "hijacked" by YI, in which the Gandhis are shareholders.