In a significant enforcement action, the Tamil Nadu revenue department on Saturday took back possession of a substantial tract of government land that had been encroached upon by SASTRA Deemed University. The operation was carried out in Thirumalaisamudram village within the Thanjavur district.
Court Order Precedes Swift Action
The retrieval of the land came swiftly on the heels of a decisive order from the Madras High Court. On Friday, a division bench comprising Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice C Kumarappan directed the removal of encroachments made by the university along the Trichy-Thanjavur highway. The court was hearing a petition filed by SASTRA itself, which had challenged a state government order (GO) issued in February 2022 that called for the institution's eviction from the disputed site.
Land Handed Over for Prison Project
Following the court's mandate, a team led by Tahsildar G Sivakumar moved in on Saturday to formally reclaim the property. Officials confirmed that a total of 31.37 acres of government poramboke land was retrieved. The team erected notice boards demarcating the survey numbers of the plots to assert government ownership.
Subsequently, the revenue department handed over the cleared land to the prison and correctional services department. This transfer aligns with an earlier proposal to establish an open-air jail at the very same location. Later on Saturday evening, officials from the prison department conducted a review meeting at the site to discuss the necessary steps to begin construction work for the new prison facility.
Implications and Next Steps
This development marks a clear victory for state authorities in a protracted legal and administrative battle over land rights. The swift execution of the court order underscores the government's stance against encroachments on public land, regardless of the occupant's stature. For SASTRA University, the loss of this vast tract of land is a major setback. The focus now shifts to the prison department, which is poised to advance plans for the open-air jail on the retrieved land in Thanjavur district.
