State questioned on land given to St Ann’s High School

Hyderabad: The AP High Court on Wednesday pulled up the state government in allotting 20 acres to St. Ann’s High School, Secunderabad at Per Basheerabad in Ranga Reddy district.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar was dealing with a petition by S. Malla Reddy, advocate of Ranga Reddy district challenging the state government’s decision to allot 20 acres of land to the school at a throw away price.

Maintaining that missionary schools are not charitable trusts, Chief Justice Sengupta pointed out how the government can give away lands at such cheaper rates. He said that there was no justification on the part of the government in allotting the land to the school. Pointing out that it is a democracy, the Chief Justice said “public exchequer has been looted.”

By keeping the laws and the Constitution in drawer, they (rulers and executive) always take such decisions, the bench remarked. The Chief Justice was of the opinion that the officer who had signed the order will be held responsible to make good loss. The bench directed the school management to file its counter affidavit prior to April 1.

The petitioner submitted to the court that the Rajasekhar Reddy’s government had allotted 20 acres of land to St. Ann’s High School, at a cost of Rs 1.5 lakh per acre as against the recommendation of the CCLA to collect Rs 2 crore per acre in the year 2006. The market value stood at Rs 5 crore per acre. The government has alienated land to the school vide GO 1217 dated Aug 23, 2006. The petitioner moved the PIL in 2012.