The Delhi High Court has directed authorities not to initiate any coercive action against Hotel Le Meridien, located at Janpath, while it pursues the renewal of its eating house and lodging licenses.

Justice Sachin Datta, while hearing a petition filed by C J International Ltd— the company operating Le Meridien—ordered the Joint Commissioner of Police to process the hotel’s application for licence renewal without insisting on a health trade licence, which remains a contentious issue.

The hotel’s health trade licence was cancelled in 2017. However, that cancellation order was stayed by the High Court and the stay remains in effect. The petitioner approached the court after facing refusal or inaction from authorities regarding the renewal of its licences due to the lack of a valid health trade licence.

Issuing notice to the Joint Commissioner of Police and the Delhi government, the court granted them four weeks to file their responses. The matter will be heard next on August 5.

The court stated:
"Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 are directed to process the petitioners’ application for renewal of the Eating House Licence and Lodging Licence without insisting on a Health Trade Licence. Further, till the next date of hearing, the respondents are restrained from taking any coercive action against the petitioners."

The petitioner’s counsel argued that a valid eating house and lodging licence is mandatory for operating the hotel’s restaurant and serving alcoholic beverages. However, the authorities have been demanding a health trade licence from the New Delhi Municipal Council as a precondition for renewing these licences, as well as the excise licence.

According to the plea, the police portal indicates that the hotel's licence renewals are pending solely due to the absence of a health trade licence, which is already under judicial review.

The court also noted that in a recent case involving another restaurant, it had held that the excise licence could not be denied renewal merely on the grounds of a missing health trade licence. In line with that reasoning, the court said the same principle applies to C J International Ltd’s application.