Thiruvananthapuram: The LDF govt has decided to scrap a controversial order passed in 2005, which allows educational institutions run by religious trusts and community organisations to obtain prime government
land on lease at dirt cheap rates and, in some cases, have the land titles transferred to the institutions’ name.
In an order issued on March 26, accessed by TOI, the government says it has taken the decision in the wake of shortage of government land in the state for public purposes. The government has also given retrospective effect to this order from July 27, 2011, which would mean that all such land assignments made after the date (that would cover the full tenure of the previous UDF government) will be covered by the latest order.
This could affect several major educational institutions backed by powerful lobbies, though the present government doesn’t seem too keen to take them on, since the March 26 order itself clarifies that those institutions which have availed favourable verdicts from courts will be exempted from the new policy. For instance, three colleges -- Christ College at Irinjalakkuda, St Thomas College and St Mary’s College at Thrissur -- were awarded 15.47 acres, 1.19 acres and 55.70 cents of land respectively on lease.
