HMT land deal proper: Kerala Govt

Kochi, Feb 26 (UNI) The Kerala Government today justified the controversial HMT land deal in the Kerala High Court, stating that it was legal and as per rules.

In an affidavit filed by Mr M P Ranji, Deputy Secretary in the Industries department, it was stated that as per a notification issued on July four, 2007, exemption was granted to the HMT from the Land Reforms Act.

Hence, the central PSU had ''absolute and inalienable right'' in respect of the 100 acres of land now in dispute. HMT had the full right to alienate the land even without the permission of the Government, the affidavit said.

It stated that the Industries Minister was unneccesarily being roped into the controversy over the deal as he was not involved in any sale of land.

The Minister was only trying to augment the development of industries in the State in pursuance of the industries policy.

The affidavit also said Blue Star Realtors Pvt. Ltd. had informed the Chief Minister, vide letter dated February ten, 2007, about the purchase of the land and its plan to develop the said land for IT purpose.

The Government affidavit was filed in response to a public interest petition by Mr Joy Kaitharath, seeking a CBI probe into the sale of land allotted to it by the Kerala Government to a private party.

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