Supreme Court asks Tamil Nadu government to consider alternative site instead of evicting SASTRA University

The Supreme Court said the state government could find an alternative site for the proposed open-air prison and let the university bear the cost. | Photo credit: The Hindu

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 21, 2026) asked the Tamil Nadu government to examine whether alternative land is acceptable in place of the government land allegedly encroached upon by SASTRA University in Thanjavur.

The three judge Bench said that the land in dispute was being used by an educational institution serving a public purpose. The court at one point asked why the state government was so “adamant” in evicting and demolishing the institution.

The bench said the state government could find an alternative site for the proposed open-air jail and let the university bear the cost.

The court was hearing a plea by SASTRA University against the January 9 order of the Madras High Court. The Supreme Court upheld the rejection of the state government’s application for allotment or exchange of government land and ordered her eviction.

Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for SASTRA, told the court that the university had offered three plots to the state government. He said the state government appeared to be in favor of a contiguous plot of 86.8 acres, but later changed its stance.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the state government, said the alternative plots were inferior to the disputed plots in terms of value, availability and neighbourhood. He said the government’s proposed open-air prison could not be built due to an ongoing court case, while the university continued construction on the encroached land.

The CJI suggested that if the alternative plots offered by SASTRA were not acceptable, the state government could identify a plot of its choice and the university could pay its market value. “If the market price comes to you, you buy the land of your choice. Or you identify the land and we tell them to buy the land for you,” CJI said.

Mr. Dwivedi said such an approach could amount to imposing a premium on interference.

The president of the court said that the dispute concerns an educational institution. “If someone was running a resort there or running a commercial complex or had a shopping mall there or was doing immoral or illegal activities there, we would throw them out,” the CJI said.

Mr. Dwivedi was granted an adjournment to seek directions from the state government on the court’s proposals.

Published – 21 Sep 2026 22:55 IST