SRM Hotel Seeks Justice After TTDC’s Premature Acquisition
New Delhi: Senior Supreme Court Advocate Syed Ahmed Saud has filed a review petition challenging the dismissal of the Trichy SRM Hotel’s plea in the Supreme Court, following the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation’s (TTDC) forcible acquisition of the property on October 22, 2025.
The case, originally listed for hearing on October 27, 2025, revolved around a Supreme Court directive requiring the hotel to deposit ₹20 crore — half of the disputed rent amount. The hotel management had already deposited ₹7 crore as per a Madurai High Court order and sought clarification through a petition filed on October 5, 2025, regarding whether the remaining ₹13 crore could be deposited with the Supreme Court registry.
Although the Supreme Court accepted the petition and listed it for hearing, TTDC proceeded to seize the hotel premises on October 22, without any court order and despite the pending case. Advocate Saud submitted photographic and video evidence of the takeover, which he claims was not examined by the two-judge bench that dismissed the petition on October 27.
The review petition, filed on November 11, 2025, argues that TTDC’s actions violated Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantee equality before law, freedom of occupation, and protection of life and personal liberty. The hotel was reportedly accommodating guests under a valid agreement with a contractor and TTDC at the time of the takeover.
Speaking to the media, Advocate Saud stated, “The Trichy SRM Hotel approached both the High Court and the Supreme Court on the fundamental principle that every occupier is entitled to due process of law. The forcible acquisition, without allowing removal of movable assets, disregards constitutional protections.”
He further added that if the review petition does not yield relief, the legal team is prepared to file a curative petition. Such a petition would be heard by a bench of three senior Supreme Court judges, with two judges reviewing the original decision.
