Necochea Appeals Court Order Halting Casino Auction
The Municipality of Necochea has filed an appeal against a court decision that halted the planned public auction of the Necochea Casino Complex, a well-known landmark in the coastal city located in Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province.
The auction had originally been scheduled for February 11 after extensive discussions within the Necochea City Council. Following those debates, the council approved the sale of the property through a majority vote, allowing the local administration to move forward with the auction process.
However, shortly before the auction date, the Administrative Litigation Court of Necochea issued a precautionary order that temporarily suspended the procedure.
Court Raises Concerns Over Administrative Process
In its ruling, the court explained that the suspension was based on concerns related to the administrative procedures that led to the authorization of the auction.
Local media reports indicated that the judge identified several irregularities linked to the preparation and documentation of the process. Among the issues highlighted were problems in the administrative steps that preceded the approval of the auction.
The court also noted that certain information it had requested had not been properly included in the official case file. In addition, documentation that had been requested in early December was reportedly not incorporated before the municipal ordinance approving the auction was passed.
Based on these factors, the court concluded that the requirements established under existing regulations had not been fully satisfied, prompting the decision to suspend the process until the issues were clarified.
Municipality Files Appeal
In response, the Municipality of Necochea has challenged the precautionary ruling by filing an appeal.
Officials from the municipal government argue that the decision should be reviewed by a higher judicial authority. As a result, the case will now be transferred to the Administrative Litigation Appeals Chamber of the Mar del Plata court.
This appeals body will examine both the municipality’s arguments and the actions of the first-instance court that ordered the suspension.
Appeals Court to Decide Future of Auction
The appeals chamber will ultimately determine whether the precautionary measure should remain in place or be lifted, which would allow the auction of the Necochea Casino Complex to proceed.
Until a decision is made, the sale of the property will remain on hold.
The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the future of the casino complex, one of Necochea’s most valuable real estate assets. The ruling may also influence how similar public asset sales are handled in the region going forward.
