High Court directive to Maharashtra government

Mumbai, Apr 25 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the state government to submit all resolutions, allotting Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) plots to ministers and politicians in the state.

A division Bench of Chief Justice Swatenter Kumar and Justice S C Dharmadhikari, hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Bhrashtachar Nirmulan Sanghatana, also asked the state government to tender a copy of MIDC Development Control regulations.

The petition highlights the issue of allotting number of plots to different educational and other institutions belonging to ministers and politicians, allegedly for non-industrial purposes.

Advocate Shakuntala Joshi, appearing for the petitioner, pointed out to the court that the MIDC itself has admitted to have allotted many such plots, throughout the state, to various educational institutions belonging to politicians.

She pointed out that the MIDC has admitted to have allotted a plot of eight acres to Rajarambapu Patil Co-operative Sugar Factory, in Islampur in Sangli district, for a meagre rate of 21 paise per square meter. In another instance, a plot of 3.53 hectare from Latur Industrial area has been allotted to an institution connected to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. This plot too was allotted at a meagre rate of 50 paise per square meter, she added.

Advocate General Ravi Kadam clarified that, rightly or wrongly, such allotments were being made since 60's and the MIDC regulations provide for such allotments, adding that the plots were not given at throwaway prices.

UNI