Taking exception to the method adopted by the state government to alienate lands to political parties for building their offices, the High Court directed it on Monday to furnish the details of lands alienated to various political parties in the state by Wednesday.
A division bench comprising chief justice KJ Sengupta and justice PV Sanjay Kumar was dealing with a petition filed by V Gopi Krishna of Nellore district challenging a GO issued in 2009 to alienate a piece of land to the District Congress Committee to build party office at East Gudur in Nellore district.
Government counsel N Sreedhar Reddy said the government had the power to allot lands to parties.
The chief justice remarked, “The government shall not alienate lands to political parties without auctioning them. The court, prima facie, is of the view that the allotment of government lands to political parties is not proper.” Under which provision of law has the government been allotting lands to political parties?” he asked.