SC pulls up Madras HC for taking land on lease

The Supreme Court criticized the Madras high court for signing a lease with the Tamil Nadu government for a parcel of land while acquisition proceedings were pending. The court said the high court should have waited for the acquisition process to conclude and not become a lessee. The lease agreement has been put on hold, and the state government will take possession of the land as a caretaker. The matter will be heard again on February 20. The high court had issued directions for the acquisition of the land for public use based on a public interest litigation.