Mon Nov 25 16:48:50 UTC 2024: ## Supreme Court Strikes Down Andhra Pradesh Land Allotment to Elite
**NEW DELHI, November 25, 2024** – The Supreme Court of India today declared unconstitutional a 2005 Andhra Pradesh government land allotment that granted 245 acres of public land to a privileged group at heavily discounted rates. The beneficiaries included judges, MPs, MLAs, bureaucrats, journalists, and other “persons of eminence.”
In a 64-page judgment, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna criticized the allocation as “artful” and arbitrary, noting that the government disguised its largesse by claiming the recipients constituted a “deserving section of society.” The land, located within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits, was essentially gifted to cooperative societies formed by these individuals at a fraction of its market value.
The court found the government’s classification of these individuals as a “distinct class” to be unreasonable and unfair, stating that preferential treatment based solely on status creates inequality and undermines trust in democratic institutions. Chief Justice Khanna emphasized that such policies foster resentment and disillusionment among ordinary citizens.
The current Telangana state government, which argued in favor of the allotment, failed to persuade the court. The Supreme Court ruled that while the allocation was presented as legitimate, it was ultimately a case of executive action steeped in arbitrariness, disproportionately benefiting the already well-off at the expense of marginalized communities. The judgment highlights the court’s commitment to ensuring equitable distribution of public resources and upholding the principles of fairness and justice.
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