JOIN USHearing a petition by M D Ramesh Raju and others seeking directions for permanent allocation of their occupations, the division bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri directed to vacate the premises by 2014 and levied a cost of Rs one lakh on Ramesh Raju, one of the petitioners.
Raju and others had constructed shops and other commercial establishments in 3.38 acre land, Sy no. 184 in heart of the city at Mandya. The land belonged to Lakshmi Janardhana Swamy temple, which is now under State Muzrai department.
The petitioners in their submission stated that they are staying in the place for more than two decades and refused to either pay the rent or move out.
The respondents submitted that empty land were leased to 24 private tenants (petitioners) 25 years ago for nine paise per sq feet, who had constructed hotels and shops in that area and sub-leased them to 157 other people.
After 2004 when the State Government authorities sought renewal of agreements the tenants not only refused to pay the rent but also moved the high court to declare them owners of the respective places which they had occupied decades ago.
Can’t oppose
Hearing the petition the division bench stated that, 'whoever has taken the benefit should pay to the state government ‘you had taken the place for lease for over a period of time and when the validity finishes you must vacate the place and you can't oppose it’.
Directing the petitioners to pay the dues, which is pending from the year 2004 on or before August 31, the bench said that the tenants should pay the rent one week in advance from September and ordered to vacate the place by January 31, 2014.
The bench directing that the tenants while vacating must not leave any dues pertaining to electricity or water supply has warned that if any dues are retained by the tenants it will be considered as violation of the Court order and are liable for criminal prosecution.