The bench of Chief Justice MN Bhandari and Justice N Mala gave the directives to the AAG, when the written appeal from Shanmuga Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA), a deemed university, challenging a GO dated February 23 this year, came up for further hearing today.
Madras HC seeks response from TN govt on SASTRA University proposal for land swap
Madras High Court has directed the Additional Advocate General to obtain instructions from the Tamil Nadu government over its stand on exchanging the land that is owned by the SASTRA University for the poramboke land that has been occupied by it for around 35 years. The bench of Chief Justice MN Bhandari and Justice N Mala gave the directives to the AAG, when the written appeal from Shanmuga Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA), a deemed university, challenging a GO dated February 23 this year, came up for further hearing today.
The GO, passed by the Thanjavur Tahsildar, pursuant to an order of the HC, refused to assign 31.37 acres of government land that was held by the university. It granted four weeks' time to the institution to vacate the encroached land, as reported by TOI.
As per the SASTRA University, it owned 86.80 acres of agricultural land in the Thatchankurichi village which had all amenities, including electricity supply and a borewell. The University said that it had also offered to hand over any of its properties in exchange for the assignment of the 31.37 acres of government land. It had also agreed to pay the difference in value. However, the government did not consider the plea. Hence, the present appeal to quash the GO and direct the government to reconsider the issue. The matter has been adjourned till August 8.
Originally, in August 2017, a division bench of Justices Nooty Ramamohana Rao (since retired) and SM Subramaniam had delivered a split judgment on assigning the government lands to SASTRA. While the former directed the government to consider the request for payment of INR 10 crore by the SASTRA university, the latter directed it to vacate.
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