Rahejas Contest Goa Government's SEZ Cancellation in Court
Background
The Raheja group, a prominent player in the Indian real estate market, has taken the Goa government to the Bombay High Court. At the heart of the dispute is the government's decision to scrap an already approved Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project owned by Rahejas.
The Case for Reversal
A senior official from Rahejas emphasized, “We have already made it clear that our SEZ was non-polluting and as such has no reason for the government to stop it. We have invested a significant amount of money on the project.” The official further queried, “We need to know on what grounds it was scrapped.” This challenge underscores the company's desire for transparency in the decision-making process.
Key Demands
- Cancellation of the State Government's Order: Rahejas is seeking a reversal of the cancellation order, arguing that the decision was made without granting the company a fair hearing.
- Clarification on Cancellation Grounds: The company is also seeking clear reasons for why the project was scrapped, given its non-polluting nature.
Precedent: The Cipla Case
Rahejas is not the first to contest the Goa government's decisions on SEZs. In December 2007, Cipla, a leading pharmaceutical company, filed petitions challenging a verbal order to halt construction at its SEZ site. Cipla's CEO, Amar Lulla, had lamented, “Despite having all requisite permissions, the state government refused to give us any police protection when we wanted it, but instead asked us to stop work. How can a government be like this?” The Cipla case remains pending in court, setting a precedent for challenges to the state's SEZ policies.