Municipality Cannot Benefit Private Party at Cost of State; Disposal of Public Property Must Be in Public Interest and Free from Bias: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has ruled that the State and municipal authorities cannot act in a manner that benefits a private individual at the cost of public property. The Court held that municipal land is held in trust for the public and any arbitrary alienation of such land violates public interest, the doctrine of public trust, and Article 14 of the Constitution of India. The judgment sets aside earlier court…