Deepak Gupta, J-The Viceregal Lodge at Shimla has been the subject-matter of a number of writ petitions. At one stage there was a proposal to turn this building into a five star hotel. One Rajeev Mankotia thereafter filed a writ petition (C) No. 862 of 1990 in the Supreme Court of India. This petition was disposed of by an erudite judgment reported in Rajeev Mankotia v. Secretary to the President of India and others, AIR 1997 SC 2766.

2. After the Shimla became the summer capital of British India there was a move to find a suitable site and build an appropriate residence for the Viceroy of India. The Viceregal Lodge was built at the present site and the 17th Viceroy, Earl Dufferin was the first Viceroy to occupy the premises. The history of the building has been in encapsulated by the Apex Court in para 2 of the aforesaid judgment which reads as follows:- "2. The journey of Shimla, Summer Capital of the Supreme Government, started in 1827 by the first Governor General, Earl of Amherst and Viceregal Lodge, the official residence built by the 17th Viceroy, Earl Dufferin, was occupied on July 28, 1888. Though Lord Dufferin and Lady Dufferin personally supervised its taking fin