IDCO move to legalize leases comes under HC scanner

The Orissa High Court today issued notices to the state government on a petition challenging a circular issued by the State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation to regularise land allotted for industrial purposes but used for other purposes.
The government-run agency, which works as a nodal land acquisition agency, had in October last year come out with the circular to regularise change of activity from industrial unit to other social infrastructures like hospitals, market complexes, hotels or educational institutions.
The lease holders were allowed to get away with by paying nominal penalties as per the category of land allotted to them.

Challenging this move of the IDCO, social activist Shivsankar Mohanty moved the High Court urging the court to quash the order as the same was made aimed at benefitting the erring lease holders.
On this count, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had last year flayed the state government and IDCO for flouting the land allotment norms.
Adjudicating over the writ, a division bench of the High Court, headed by Chief Justice Amitava Roy, issued notices to the respondents of the petition, including the State Chief Secretary. The respondents have been asked to file their counters to the petition in affidavits within four weeks.