Must have strong qualification criteria for bidders: Sitesh Mukherjee

SC often held selection criteria for govt auction are left to discretion of administrative authority

The Delhi High Court has held that IHC does not have the right to a renewal of the licence for the Taj Mansingh hotel. The High Court has also rejected IHC’s contention of the right of first refusal to match the bid price of the highest bidder, as it felt it would adversely affect the bid process. In this order, the Supreme Court has not interfered with the Delhi High Court judgment, which has directed auctioning the property. 

The Supreme Court has only added that given the peculiarities of this case, namely the iconic nature of the property and its brand