"They (Private firm) will be allowed to carry out all activities of maintenance of Jal Mahal as well as the lake," said a bench comprising justices Deepak Verma and Gyan Sudha Mishra, while clarifying that "the lake is also a part of the monument."
The apex court extended its May 25 order by which it had stayed the Rajasthan High Court order, which had cancelled the 99-year lease of the 100-acre land having 16th century Jal Mahal and Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur to Jal Mahal Resorts Pvt Ltd.
The apex court had restrained the private firm from undertaking any fresh construction on the site but had only allowed preservation and restoration work of the historical monument.
The bench will hear three petitions filed on the issue together.
When the matter came up for hearing, senior advocate Ranjit Kumar and Vivek Tankha, appearing for the Jal Mahal Resorts, said the opposite parties have not filed their replies to the notices issued on May 25 and sought that the matter be put for final hearing.
"What is the urgency?," the bench, however, asked and said "You are already standing on sound footing."
The bench also clarified that the private company was at its own risk in carrying out the work on the monument and lake as the interim order was subject to the final outcome of the matter before it. (More)