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<h1>Supreme Court grants interim protection, halts land allotment, emphasizes status quo importance.</h1> <h3>Zenit Mataplast P. Ltd. Versus State of Maharashtra and Ors.</h3> Zenit Mataplast P. Ltd. Versus State of Maharashtra and Ors. - 2009 AIR 2364, 2009 (14) SCR 403, 2009 (10) SCC 388, 2009 (12) JT 240, 2009 (12) SCALE 432 Issues Involved:1. Rejection of the appellant's application for land allotment.2. Alleged discriminatory allotment of land to respondents 4 and 5.3. Compliance with statutory provisions and regulations.4. Violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.5. Justification for interim relief.Detailed Analysis:1. Rejection of the appellant's application for land allotment:The appellant, a private limited company, applied for the allotment of 8000 sq. yards of adjacent vacant land on 30.11.2005. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (Corporation) rejected this application on 19.12.2005 without assigning any reason. The appellant contended that the rejection was arbitrary, especially since a part of Plot No. F-17 had been allotted to BSNL in 2004 without changing the land user.2. Alleged discriminatory allotment of land to respondents 4 and 5:Respondent No. 4, a major industrial company, sought land for a joint venture project with Renault. The Government of Maharashtra promised to provide land, and the Corporation changed the land user from open space to industrial area to facilitate this. The land measuring 17 acres was allotted to respondent No. 4 on 27.3.2006, and possession was handed over immediately. The appellant argued that this was done in undue haste, showing favoritism towards a big industrial house, violating Article 14 of the Constitution.3. Compliance with statutory provisions and regulations:The allotment of land is governed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act, 1961, and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (Disposal of Land) Regulations, 1975. Regulation 4 provides for disposal of land by public auction or individual applications, and Regulation 10 mandates that the Land Committee consider applications and pass appropriate orders. The appellant claimed that the Corporation did not follow these regulations and that the land should have been disposed of by auction.4. Violation of Article 14 of the Constitution:The appellant alleged that the rejection of its application and the allotment to respondent No. 4 violated the right to equality guaranteed under Article 14. The appellant's application was made before respondent No. 4's, yet the latter's application was processed quickly and favorably. The Supreme Court noted that the Corporation and the Government acted in undue haste, which amounted to arbitrariness and violated Article 14.5. Justification for interim relief:The High Court rejected the appellant's application for interim relief, leading to this appeal. The Supreme Court emphasized that interim relief is granted based on prima facie findings to preserve the status quo and prevent the matter from becoming infructuous. The Court considered the principles of prima facie case, balance of convenience, and irreparable injury. Given the undue haste in the allotment to respondent No. 4 and the appellant's ongoing efforts to secure the land, the Supreme Court found that the appellant deserved interim protection.Conclusion:The appeal was allowed, and the interim order passed by the Supreme Court on 21.7.2008 was to continue until the High Court decided the writ petition. The High Court was requested to expedite the hearing. The Supreme Court's observations on facts or law were not to adversely affect either party's case. The appeal was disposed of with no costs.