Why in news
The Andhra Pradesh government allotted 245 acres of public land in 2005 to judges, MPs, MLAs, bureaucrats, journalists, and other “persons of eminence” at discounted rates, calling them “deserving sections of society.”
The Supreme Court declared the allotment unconstitutional and arbitrary, stating it was an unfair act of favoritism.
What SC said
The Court noted that this land was virtually "gifted" to these privileged groups, with the price set far below the market rate.
By allocating land at discounted rates to these elites, the government created inequality, giving them advantages that ordinary citizens could not access.
The Court said this preferential treatment sent the message that certain individuals were entitled to more resources based solely on their status, not the public good.
The Telangana government argued in favor of the allotment, claiming these recipients formed a “distinct class” deserving of the land.
The Court concluded that the land allotment deprived marginalized sections of society of essential resources and was an arbitrary, unjust action.
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