The issue of government land associated with Gitam University in Visakhapatnam has once again triggered a fresh debate. Former Union Government Secretary and former IAS officer EAS Sharma has urged senior state government officials to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the lands under the control of Gitam University and bring the facts to light. According to published reports, Sharma has written a strongly worded letter to key officials of the Andhra Pradesh government in this regard.
Sharma has reportedly called for a detailed examination of the entire issue, including earlier developments concerning Gitam University lands, allotment of government land, allegations of encroachment, ongoing attempts at regularisation, and the relevant government records.
Comprehensive Probe into Gitam University Lands
The issue of government land associated with Gitam University in Visakhapatnam has been under discussion for some time. Proposals related to the regularisation of around 54.79 acres of government land have brought the matter back into focus. Reports have also highlighted earlier action taken by revenue officials concerning these lands.
The key questions include the basis on which the lands were allotted, the nature of the rights over the government land, the decisions taken by officials in the past, and the rules being relied upon for the proposed regularisation.
Sharma has reportedly sought clarity on these issues through his letter to the state authorities.
Why Has EAS Sharma Raised Questions Over Gitam Lands?
The government land issue involving Gitam University has several legal and administrative dimensions. The proposed regularisation of approximately 54.79 acres has particularly drawn attention.
Questions have been raised over whether the land was allotted in accordance with the applicable rules, what government orders governed the allotments, and whether subsequent decisions concerning the land were legally valid.
Sharma has reportedly urged the authorities to examine the entire chain of decisions rather than considering the regularisation proposal in isolation.
Revenue Officials Had Earlier Taken Action Over More Than 40 Acres
According to reports, revenue officials had earlier taken action against land under the control of Gitam University. A report published by Sakshi stated that the government had taken possession of more than 40.51 acres of land in phases.
The report also stated that structures and other developments on the land, including a compound wall, garden and gravel bund, were removed by the authorities.
There have also been legal proceedings concerning some of the remaining land. Gitam management had reportedly approached the court challenging the actions taken by the authorities, with court proceedings continuing in connection with certain portions of the land.
However, Gitam management has denied allegations of encroachment. Gitam representatives have maintained that they possess documents relating to the land and that the institution had been allotted land by the government in the past. They have also stated that the land was being used in accordance with the applicable rules.
Questions Over the Proposed Regularisation
After the coalition government came to power, the issue of regularising the disputed lands under Gitam’s control reportedly came to the forefront again. Reports at the time stated that a proposal concerning approximately 54.79 acres of government land was placed on the agenda of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Council.
This is where Sharma’s objections assume significance. He has reportedly urged the government to examine the rules governing the allotment of government land to private institutions, earlier government decisions, court judgments and relevant revenue records before proceeding with any regularisation.
Supreme Court Judgments Also Cited
Published reports indicate that Sharma referred to Supreme Court judgments concerning the allotment and disposal of government lands in his objections.
According to the reports, he has sought an examination of whether the decisions being taken by the state government concerning government land are consistent with applicable legal principles.
The issue also reportedly involves GO No. 571 issued by the Revenue Department in 2012 and the provisions of BSO-24. How these provisions apply to the Gitam lands is another issue that requires official clarification.
Demand to Make Government Records Available
The dispute cannot be resolved merely through allegations and political statements. The facts need to be established by examining official records and relevant legal documents.
The key questions include:
- What are the original ownership and title details of the lands?
- When and how much land was allotted?
- Under which government orders were the lands allotted?
- Why did allegations of encroachment arise later?
- How much land was taken back by the authorities?
- Which rules are being relied upon for the proposed regularisation?
- What is the current status of the court cases concerning the lands?
- What are the complete records relating to earlier government decisions on the land?
A comprehensive examination of these issues is reportedly what Sharma has sought from the state authorities.
Loans Against Government Land Also Became a Point of Discussion
Another issue concerning the Gitam lands had also reportedly come into the spotlight earlier. A Sakshi report stated that permissions had been granted in the past to obtain bank loans against certain government-allotted lands.
The report also referred to land in the Endada area associated with certain survey numbers and discussed the issue of mortgaging land for obtaining loans even though some of the land was reportedly included in the 22A prohibited properties list.
This aspect too requires examination of the relevant official records, permissions and government orders to establish the facts.
Gitam University’s Version Also Needs to Be Considered
Gitam University has its own position on the land issue. According to the institution’s representatives, a substantial portion of the land within its campus was officially allotted by successive governments in the past and has been used for educational purposes for several decades.
Gitam has also maintained that it possesses documents relating to the lands and had approached the courts challenging actions taken by the authorities.
Therefore, the claims made by different sides need to be examined alongside the relevant land records, government orders, court proceedings and other official documents before arriving at a final determination of the facts.
EAS Sharma’s Demand Brings the Issue Back Into Focus
The Gitam land dispute raises broader questions concerning the protection of government property, transparency in land allotments and the legal basis for government decisions.
Against this backdrop, the demand for a comprehensive examination of earlier decisions, the present status of the lands and the proposals for regularisation has once again brought the issue into focus.
The government will now have to examine the relevant records, legal provisions and court orders and determine what action should be taken regarding the disputed lands.
EAS Sharma Demands Comprehensive Probe into Gitam Lands
The Gitam University land issue has once again reached the attention of senior state government officials. Former IAS officer EAS Sharma has sought a comprehensive inquiry into every aspect of the matter, from the original allotment of government land and allegations of encroachment to earlier official action, court proceedings and the current proposals for regularisation.
Gitam University has already presented its position on the matter, maintaining that it has documents supporting its claims over the lands. At the same time, objections raised by former senior officials such as EAS Sharma have brought renewed attention to questions concerning the protection of government land and transparency in land allotments.
The key issue now is how the government will examine the official records, applicable legal provisions and court orders and what decision it will take regarding the disputed lands.
