AP High Court Questions Free Land Allotment to ABN
Andhra Pradesh High Court Questions Free Land Allotment to ABN Publication
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has raised serious concerns over the allotment of valuable government land in Visakhapatnam to ABN-associated publication interests. The court examined the issue during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation challenging the decision to transfer land reportedly worth ₹100 crore.
The petition was filed by Visakhapatnam resident Nakka Nammi Grace, who challenged the state government’s move to allot land in Survey Numbers 70/1 and 70/2 to Amoda Publications Private Limited for the construction of an Andhra Jyothi office. The matter has drawn attention to the legality of the allotment and adherence to state land policies.
Petitioner Questions Legality Under State Land Policy
Advertisement
Arguing for the petitioner, senior advocate Jada Sravan Kumar told the court that the Andhra Pradesh government does not have the authority to grant government land free of cost to private entities. He cited Clause 3 of the Andhra Pradesh State Government Land Allotment Policy under GO MS No. 571 dated 14.09.2012, which, he argued, prohibits free transfer of government land to companies.
The court also examined Government Order (GO) No. 492 issued on December 12, 2025, directing the immediate transfer of the land valued at ₹100 crore to the publication company. The bench questioned whether any sale deed had been executed in favour of the respondent company following the issuance of the GO.
Bench Seeks Clarification From State Government
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Dheer Singh Thakur and Justice Chella Gunaranjan asked the state government under which legal provision such free land transfer was made. The court emphasised that any land allotment must strictly follow the legal framework established by the state.
Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas, representing the government, requested two weeks to obtain full details regarding the circumstances under which the GO was issued. He also sought time to submit a comprehensive affidavit explaining the government’s position.
The High Court directed the state government to file a detailed counter and issued notices to all respondents in the case. The bench underscored that statutory procedures must be followed in matters involving public land.
The hearing has been adjourned for four weeks. The development comes amid ongoing public and political scrutiny surrounding the publication group, including earlier discussions referenced in the report on the ABN Andhra Jyothi regret debate remark.
👉 For more breaking news updates, in-depth reports, and real-time developments from across India, visit the City Buzz Daily homepage.
