The Madras High Court on Tuesday wanted to know the status of a representation made by Shanmuga Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA), a deemed university from Thanjavur, to the State government on the basis of a May 10 Government Order which permits exchange of lands between the government and private institutions.
Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice N. Mala directed Additional Advocate General (AAG) J. Ravindran to ascertain the status of the representation by August 8. The direction was issued while hearing a writ petition filed by SASTRA in March against the government’s refusal to assign 31.37 acres of land under its occupation for long.
Representing the university, senior counsel G. Rajagopal contended much water had flown under the bridge ever since the writ petition was filed. He said, the government itself had come up with a G.O. on May 10 for amending its Revenue Standing Orders and allowing exchange of lands between the government and higher educational institutions.
