R.F.NARIMAN,J. - (1.) Leave granted.
(2.) The present appeal involves a challenge to a notification dated 18th January, 2016, issued under Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by Section 5 of the Indian Ports Act, 1908, by which the State Government of Gujarat expanded the port limits of Hazira port. It is the case of the Appellants before us that by doing so, the Appellants have been affected because they have spent huge monies on lands reclaimed by them, which would be directly affected by the expansion of the aforesaid port limits.
(3.) The brief facts necessary for determining the questions that arise in this appeal are as follows. In 1994, the parent company of the Appellants entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (hereinafter referred to as "GMB") for use of a captive jetty in Magdalla port. Pursuant to a Port Policy framed by the Government of Gujarat in 1995, and a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) Policy framed for private sector participation in development of the State's ports in 1997, the GMB issued a Global Notice for Expression of Interest for Development of Green Field Site Port Facilities, inviting bids in the name of Hazira port project. Aconsortium led by Shell Gas B.V. was selected to develop, operate and maintain certain facilities on leased area in the port on a BOOT basis, together with related LNG facilities. Pursuant to the acceptance of its bid, Shell Gas B.V. created two subsidiaries in Gujarat, namely, Hazira Port Private Limited (HPPL) and Hazira LNG Private Limited. Aconcession agreement dated 22 nd April, 2002 was entered into between the GMB, the State Government and HPPL for the purpose of development, operation and maintenance of Hazira port by HPPL. Anotification dated 23rd June, 2004 was issued by the State Government notifying Hazira port and setting out its limits, in exercise of powers under Section 4(2) of the Indian Ports Act. This was carved out of the port limits of Magdalla port, which was so reduced as to exclude the aforesaid Hazira port. ;