Srinagar, July 26 (KNS): The Nedous and several other Hotels in Gulmarg continues to operate on government land nearly seven years after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court ordered its eviction, following a finding that the hotel was occupying the land without a valid lease.

According to official records and the High Court judgment dated September 6, 2018, the hotel has been functioning without a valid lease since its expiry on December 31, 1985. The court noted that while the original lease granted in 1963 was for 2 kanals and 13 marlas of land, the hotel had expanded over the years to occupy nearly 98 kanals—an increase not backed by official authorization.

The Division Bench, led by then Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Alok Aradhe, held the occupation to be unauthorized under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1988. It also rejected the hotel’s plea for lease renewal, citing a February 2015 government communication that declined the request.

The court ruled that renewal of lease, especially on public land, is not a matter of right and must follow a transparent process.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelIt noted that public land should be dealt with in a uniform and legal manner.

Before the High Court ruling, the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) had served an eviction notice on the hotel on March 31, 2015. An eviction order followed on April 25, 2015, after which the hotel was asked to vacate the premises within seven days. The hotel, however, challenged the order in court.

While rejecting the challenge, the High Court emphasized that filing renewal applications or depositing rent does not grant legal rights without approval from competent authorities. The court also observed that any future lease of public land must be based on open and competitive procedures.

The government, in its submissions, stated that the fencing around the encroached land had been removed and that eviction was to follow. It also claimed that documents submitted by the hotel did not fully reflect the actual extent of the lease.

Despite the court order, eviction proceedings have not been carried out, and the hotel continues its operations.(KNS) 

Transcorp Hotels Plc has announced an interim dividend of N1,024bn for the half year (H1) 2025.

The hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc stated this in its H1 unaudited results for the period ended June 30, 2025 seen by THE WHISTLER.

The dividend translates to N0.10 for every 50 kobo ordinary share, subject to appropriate withholding tax according to the company.

The H1 results show Transcorp Hotels recording an impressive Y-o-Y revenue growth of 60 per cent from ₦29.72bn in H1 2024, to ₦47.57bn in H1 2025.

Transcorp Hotels’ profit in H1 2025, grew gross profit by 71 per cent to ₦36.21bn, from ₦21.19bn of the preceding year.

The growth, according to the company, translated to an improvement in H1 2025 gross profit margin, increasing to 76 per cent, despite the challenging macroeconomic environment marked by rising inflation and increased operating costs.

Chairman Transcorp Hotels Plc, Emmanuel Nnorom, commenting on Transcorp Hotels’ said the performance in the first half of 2025 further validates its transformative strategies, with a focus on innovation and operational efficiency.

“It affirms our steadfast dedication to delivering investor returns and signals our profound confidence in Transcorp Hotels’ future growth. Moving forward, we are confident in our ability to consistently raise the bar for the industry, fulfilling our mission to redefine hospitality in Africa,” he said.

The MD/CEO Transcorp Hotels Plc, Uzo Oshogwe, comments, “Our exceptional H1 2025 performance reflects our relentless execution of a growth-focused agenda.

“These results reflect the resilience of our business model and the dedication of our team. Building on the foundation of our iconic assets, the Transcorp Hilton Abuja and the new 5,000-seat capacity Transcorp Centre, we are not just leading Nigeria’s hospitality sector, but redefining excellence across Africa.

“Our sustained momentum is a reflection of our commitment to innovation, operational efficiency, and value creation for all stakeholders.”