‘How can reserved land be given to Pawar trust?'

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has asked the state how it could have given a plot of land meant for cattle grazing to an educational trust headed by NCP chief and Union minister Sharad Pawar.
The HC on Tuesday issued notice to the state government after a PIL filed by a farmer Jyotiram Jadhav questioned the government’s decision to allot land reserved for cattle-grazing in a village near Baramati in Pune district to Vidya Prathisthan.
The government said it had relied on a circular of 1983 which permits the state to give land to educational institutes, dispensaries or any other philanthropic use. After observing that the Supreme Court had held that cattle land must be secured too, the HC wondered how a cattle grazing ground could be given. Such land cannot be allotted for any other use, the bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka said. The HC adjourned the hearing till June 23.
Government advocate Molina Thakur said the allotment was made in 2006-07 and the school had already come up and was functioning. She said she would have to verify whether the allotment was made before the SC ruling or after. The counsel for Sharad Pawar said he would like to go through the state’s affidavit and also make its submission. The PIL alleged that no rules were followed by the state and the Oune collector as no auction was held.