Govt urged to rethink on pricing of land allotted for cancer hospital

HYDERABAD: A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court on Monday directed the state government to reconsider the pricing of 15 acres of land in Khanamet leased to Sai Sindhu Foundation.

The bench was hearing two PILs filed by RIGHTS and Dr Urmila Pingle questioning the validity of GOs released in March and September 2018 allotting the land to the foundation for the construction of a hospital for cancer and other life-threatening diseases as non-profit business.

The terms and conditions were the same as those on which the land was allotted to the Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital in 1989. The lease was at a rate of '50,000 per annum with an annual increase of five per cent every three years.

It was alleged that the leasing land for 60 years at a nominal rent of '1.47 crore was contrary to the government land allotment policy of 2012 and 2015. It is pointed out that even if the benchmark of Basavatarakam Cancer Institute was taken, the annual rent at Khanamet would be approximately Rs 50.5 crore.

It was also alleged that the establishment of the trust itself was nothing but a cover to the beneficiaries of the land in question since there were similar writ petitions on the same question they were heard together.

“There cannot be a policy much less a rational policy of allotting land on the basis of applications made by individuals or institutions,” Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said and added “Any allotment of land in the form of largesse by the state would be arbitrary, discriminatory and an act of favoritism.”

The bench directed the government to act strictly in accordance with the government land allotment policy of 2012 and 2015. The government has to consider the matter afresh.