Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has directed the vice-chancellor of Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) to decide within eight weeks on a long-pending proposal by Vidarbha City Club Pvt Ltd seeking a lease of nearly 52 acres of land at Kachipura (Mouza Lendra).A division bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode passed the order on Aug 6 while disposing of a petition filed by club director Harish Shakya through counsel Anup Gilda.According to the petition, the company submitted a proposal on Sept 9, 2019, seeking allotment of the land, claiming the project would benefit farmers in the Vidarbha region. On the same day, it also approached the Maharashtra governor. The governor’s secretariat subsequently informed the petitioner that the matter fell within PDKV’s jurisdiction and directed the VC to consider the proposal.The petitioner contended that despite the governor’s communication and several reminders between 2022 and 2026, the proposal remained pending for nearly seven years, prompting the company to approach the court.Before disposing of the plea, the bench noted that the petitioner was only seeking expeditious consideration of the proposal. Without expressing any opinion on its merits or the company’s eligibility for allotment of the land, the judges directed PDKV to decide the Sept 9, 2019 proposal and address the petitioner’s grievance within eight weeks of receiving the court order, and communicate its decision within two weeks thereafter.According to the proposal submitted to the authorities, the land is intended to be developed into facilities for farmers, including accommodation for those visiting Nagpur, warehouses for cotton, wheat, vegetables, fruits and paddy, training centres for modern agricultural practices, hostels for farmers’ children, a hospital, a mini theatre, and sports facilities such as kabaddi and kho-kho grounds, indoor game courts, a gymnasium and a swimming pool.The petition also cited previous instances in which the Akola-headquartered university leased land at Telangkhedi Garden, Botanical Garden and Mouza Bhivsen Khori, arguing that the Kachipura land should also be considered for allotment.Key Takeaways:HC directed PDKV VC to decide Vidarbha City Club’s 2019 land application by October 1.The decision must be communicated to the petitioner within two weeks thereafter.The application remained pending for nearly seven years despite repeated representations.The proposal seeks a lease of about 52 acres at Kachipura for farmer welfare facilities.HC has not directed allotment of land or expressed any opinion on merits of proposal.Petition disposed of after directing PDKV to take a reasoned decision on pending application.
