Odisha: HC Dismisses Plea Against SB College Land Acquisition For Chandi Temple Project

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Tuesday dismissed the PIL filed by Old Students Association (Alumni) Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College, seeking direction to stop the acquisition of the college land for the proposed Rs 70 crore Chandi Temple beautification plan.

While dismissing it, the division bench of Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice RK Pattanaik said, “No part of the land of the college is being used as such for a religious purpose. It is only being used for the expansion of a public road. Further, it is claimed that the existing facilities of a playground of the college are being increased and not diminished. Consequently, the court finds the apprehension expressed by the petitioner to be unfounded.”

Notably, the two-judge bench on July 1 had given one more week’s time to the Cuttack collector to file a detailed affidavit on the project, stating whether any land of Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College would be utilised for the same and if so, what provision has been made to give suitable land/facility to the college.

State counsel D K Mohanty had then submitted some documents and claimed a small patch of government land, a portion of the college’s playground, will be used, while advocate Sujata Jena, appearing on the association’s behalf, argued that the state’s decision was against the interest of the institution and its students.

Earlier, the association had also written to the Chief Minister, requesting him to prevent the acquisition of the playground which has helped to produce many state and national level players.