HYDERABAD:Expressing displeasure with the attitude of the Tamil Nadu government with regard to Sadavarti lands, a division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Monday pulled up the Tamil Nadu government for delay in approaching the court to claim that the Sadavarti lands belongs to it. The bench was not satisfied with the submission of the TN government that it was not aware of the auction.
In August this year, the bench directed the Andhra Pradesh government to conduct auction afresh fixing the minimum price as `27.44 crore for purchase of Sadavarti lands. Aggrieved with the same, the highest bidder in the auction held earlier approached the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Satyanarayana builders of Kadapa district succeeded in the fresh auction by offering to pay an amount of Rs 60.30 crores for the said lands. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court claiming that the said lands belongs to the state. The Apex Court while cancelling the entire auction process, referred the matter to the High Court. On Monday, the counsel for Tamil Nadu government submitted that the state was not aware of the auction of subject lands.
The bench pointed out why the state not responded when the advertisements for second auction was given in various news papers in Tamil Nadu.In reply, the counsel said that the advertisements have not come to the notice of the government. In fact, there was an order passed by the Madras High Court on Sadavarti lands issue.
On the other hand, the counsel for AP said that there was need to get clarity on some issues on the said order and a plea was moved before the Supreme Court for such clarity and it was expected to come up for hearing soon. Meanwhile, the counsel for petitioner Ramakrishna Reddy urged for repayment of the deposit amount of `27.44 crores made towards purchase of subject lands to his client.
The bench asked the counsels for AP and Tamil Nadu government whether they have any objections on it, and posted the matter to Monday for further hearing.