JUDGMENT

R.V. Raveendran, J.

1. The Appellants in these appeals are the lessees of plots allotted by the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (for short 'the Authority' or 'NOIDA') for construction of 5 star, 4 star and 3 star hotels in Noida, District Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. The said Authority was constituted under the provisions of the U.P. Industrial Area Development Act, 1976 ('Act' for short) for development of an Industrial and Urban Township of Noida in Uttar Pradesh, neighbouring Delhi.

2. Tourism was granted the status of an "industry" by the state government during 1997-98, by extending certain concessions and facilities available to industries. However as tourism, in particular hotel industry, had not received the required encouragement, the state government with the intention of attracting capital investment in tourism industry came up with a policy, as per its communication dated 22.5.2006 addressed to the Director General of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh. Relevant portions of the said policy are extracted below:

(1) Land should be earmarked for hotels by the concerned Development Authorities while preparing the Master Plan with the cooperation of the Tourism Depa