Hyderabad (Hindu): Justice N. V. Ramana of the A. P. High Court on Monday stayed all further proceedings initiated by the State government against Pullela Gopichand, renowned badminton player, to resume the land given to him earlier at Gachibowli, Hyderabad. The government had allotted five acres at Gachibowli to Mr Gopichand at a nominal lease amount of Rs 1,000 per acre in 2003 to establish a world class badminton academy.
However, on September 19, 2008, the government decided to take back three acres saying that the allottee did not utilise the land for the purpose it was provided. The government told the court that it intended to start a sports college at the land to train players for the London Olympics of 2012.
The orders were passed by Justice Ramana in a writ petition filed by Gopichand who challenged the action of the government by way of urgent lunch motion.
Gopichand said that after his success as world champion he was given five acres of land in 2003 to set up world class badminton academy. He informed the court that the rocky uneven soil was levelled after spending money and the academy started functioning.
He said that many world class players including Saina Nehwal and P. Kashyap trained at the campus and further constructions were to start.
He complained that the State government issued G.O. on September 19 on flimsy grounds like swimming pool being established was not critically necessary for badminton, land had not been fully utilised and the government wanted to set up a sports school or college.
He said when the badminton academy was being run, the intention of setting up another school was suspect and the present order would cripple his academy as the facilities for the academy wherein the land proposed to be taken, was in his possession.
When the case came up hearing the counsel for SAAP said that local revenue officers had already handed over the land. The judge said that there shall be status quo and stayed all further actions and posted the matter to Monday.
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