In Brief
Bihar State Housing Board sought to overturn a High Court order requiring it to charge a discounted price for an alternative plot. The Board had offered a plot at a certain price; the applicant accepted it three times but later challenged the price, obtaining a High Court direction for a proportionate alternative price. The Supreme Court held that the Board has the freedom to fix prices for public property, provided it acts fairly and rationally. It ruled that mere application for allotment does not confer legal rights, and the applicant was estopped from disputing the price after accepting it multiple times. The Court emphasised that public property cannot be disposed of without proper advertisement and transparent procedures. The High Court's order was set aside.
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