Supreme Court orders handover of Wildflower Hall to Himachal govt

The Supreme Court upholds Himachal Pradesh High Court’s order to vacate the Wildflower Hall, a luxury hotel near Shimla, by the Oberoi Group. The hotel has been under scrutiny for financial mismanagement and losses. The government suspected financial wrongdoing and is a stakeholder.

The High Court directed East India Hotels (EIH) Ltd to vacate and hand over the property of Wildflower Hall within two months. The Oberoi Group failed to comply with the arbitration award within the stipulated time limit of three months, making the government eligible to take over the possession and management of the hotel.

Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal entrusted the hotel’s audit to the CAG and questioned why the hotel was running into losses while other Oberoi ventures in Shimla were profitable. The hotel, once the residence of British-era Indian Army Commander-in-Chief, was handed over to the Oberois for restoration and operation after being gutted in a fire in 1990. The Wildflower Hall is located at a height of 8,300 feet and is a sought-after destination for high-end tourists and celebrities.

Despite being a landmark luxury hotel, the Wildflower Hall has been under scrutiny for financial mismanagement and losses. The government, suspecting financial wrongdoing, has been advocating for the Oberoi Group to vacate the property and surrender possession to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.

The High Court’s decision to ask EIH Ltd to vacate the property within two months comes after a long-standing legal battle between the Oberoi Group and the state government. The former chief minister questioned the losses incurred by the hotel, and the government suspected financial mismanagement. The Wildflower Hall, with its rich history and stunning location, has been a subject of controversy and legal disputes between the Oberoi Group and the Himachal Pradesh government.

The hotel, once the residence of a British-era Indian Army Commander-in-Chief, has been handed over to the Oberois for restoration and operation, but its financial performance has been a cause for concern. The legal battle and the Supreme Court’s decision mark a significant development in the ongoing saga of the Wildflower Hall.

Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka are regular guests at the hotel, adding to its celebrity status. The story of Wildflower Hall, with its historic significance and legal battles, continues to unfold as the government seeks to take over the possession and management of the luxury hotel.