HC issues notices to Maha on illegal allotment of Nagpur land

The Bombay High Court today issued notices to Maharashtra Government and some organisations for alleged illegal allotment of land here for monetary consideration, causing loss of Rs 100 crores to the state exchequer.
A High Court bench in Nagpur, comprising justices B P Dharmadhikari and Sunil Shukre, issued notices to the State Government through its Chief Secretary, Mumbai.
Other respondents include Secretary, Urban Development Department, Nagpur Municipal Commissioner, Chairman of Nagpur Improvement Trust, Maharashtra Rashtrabhasha Sabha of Pune, Nagpur-based Prajakta Developers, S M G Hospitals Pvt Ltd, Wockhardt Hospitals Pvt Ltd, Mumbai.
Citizens Forum for Equality, an NGO, had filed the PIL challenging the "illegal" action of Government officers and private companies in allotment of a government-owned land.

Petitioner Madhukar Kukde alleged that a loss of Rs 100 crores was caused to the state exchequer due to illegal allotment of the government land by Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) to Maharashtra Rashtrabhasha Sabha (MRS) of Pune which strives for promotion of Hindi Language.
The petitioner has demanded the action against the state government officers involved in illegal activities.

Advocate Tushar Mandlekar, appearing for petitioner prayed for a CBI inquiry as some politicians were allegedly involved.
Advocate Ambarish Joshi accepted the notices on behalf of State Government. The notice is returnable after three weeks.
It was alleged that NIT had bypassed the mandatory provision of the rule 5,6,7 of Land Disposal Rules 1986 to auction the said land.

According to the petitioner, the land was illegally given only at a premium of Rs 30 lakh to MRS of Pune for 30 years by the local authority NIT Nagpur in 2007 without putting it into the process of auction.