SC stays Patna HC order

New Delhi, Jan 19 (UNI) The Supreme Court today stayed the Patna high court order staying the allotment of land to film producer Prakash Jha by Nitish Kumar government in Bihar for setting up a film studio at Patna.

Jha had made a film on Railway Minister Lalu Prasad portraying the RJD Supremo and his brother-in-law Sadhu Yadav as anti-socials.

He had also made films such as 'Apharan' and 'Gangajal' etc.

The decision of the present state government was challenged through a PIL by Prem Chandra Mishra and others and the high court had stayed the allotment.

A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and S H Kapadia also issued notices on a petition filed by M/s Holicow Pictures Pvt.

Ltd., owned by Jha to the respondents including state of Bihar.

The allotment of several acres of land to Jha was challenged on the grounds that public land has been allotted in violation of rules at throwaway prices and no public purpose is being served and the allotment is liable to be quashed.

Counsel for the petitioner today contended that the respondents had no locus standi to challenge the government decision and the petition in the high court was politically motivated and that no illegality was involved in the allotment of the land.

UNI