State defends VIP lands

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, Sept.9 : The State government has defended the allotment of housesites to MLAs, MPs, All-India Service Officers and journalists, before the AP High Court.
The government filed an affidavit on Tuesday pursuant to a notice of the court on a writ petition filed by Dr Rao VBJ Chelikani and the Campaign for Housing and Tenural Rights challenging the allotment.
The government has contended that this was its policy and it was well-settled law that while dealing with the policy decisions the Constitutional courts have limited scope.
It contended that the allotment was a welfare measure and it cannot be equated with the duty of the allot land to weaker sections.
The government told the court that the allotment was a one time benefit to these sections based on their services to the state and the people.
It argued that allotting housesites only to those who do not possess a house or plot would be harsh and discriminatory to those who have private properties acquired through ancestors or through spouses.
It contended that "so long as such allotment is one time benefit, allotting housesites to those who possess a own house or site cannot be termed as arbitrary , moreso, when land is being allotted for a consideration".
It was submitted that the division bench, which dealt with the similar petitions earlier, did not find fault with the policy.
A special bench comprising Justice Nooty Rammohan Rao and Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy will hear the case .