Telangana High Court upholds YSR’s order revoking lands allotted by TDP Govt to IMG Bharata

HYDERABAD: After an 18-year legal battle, the Telangana Government has regained control over lands worth thousands of crores of rupees that were allotted to a company by name IMG Bharata during the TDP Government headed by Chandrababu Naidu.

The Telangana High Court on Thursday upheld the orders issued by the Congress Government led by Dr YS Rajashekhara Reddy to cancel the land allotment, confirming the government's authority.

In 2003, the TDP Government had allotted 800 acres of land to IMG Bharat at a shockingly low price of Rs 50,000 per acre. IMG India, which promised to develop world-class sports grounds and train athletes for the 2020 Olympics, allegedly received special treatment in the form of fast-tracked registration, file preparation, and ministerial approvals within four days.

The public was outraged as the government granted prime lands, originally valued at Rs 10 crores per acre, at an inconceivably low price. Furthermore, IMG was exempted from paying any registration fees, drawing sharp condemnation. The Congress government repossessed the allotted lands in 2004, but IMG Bharata contested the cancellation, sparking an extended legal battle.

Finally, a two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court affirmed the constitutional validity of the Telangana Government Property (Preservation, Protection, and Resumption) Act, 2007. This Act nullified the benefits extended to IMG Bharat under a prior MoU and validated the government's right to reclaim the lands.

IMG Academies Bharata Private Limited challenged the Act, asserting protection under Article 298 of the Constitution and decrying the legislation's alleged arbitrariness. However, the court dismissed these claims, emphasizing the state's legislative competence and the necessity to protect public interests.

The legal battle's resolution is a significant victory for the Telangana Government, bringing an end to nearly two decades of contention and restoring valuable lands now worth around Rs 50,000 crore to the state's possession.