MnO4- (0.4 mmol/g)-exchanged Mg-Al-hydrotalcite is an active and highly selective catalyst for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde by tert-butyl hydroperoxide under reflux in the absence of solvent. It also shows high activity for the oxidation of benzaldehyde to benzoic acid. The higher the Mg/Al ratio, the higher is the catalytic activity (in both the reactions) and basicity of the hydrotalcite catalyst.