Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Seeks Alternative Land in SASTRA Encroachment Case
The Supreme Court is considering a disagreement between Tamil Nadu and SASTRA University.
The state says the university is using 31.37 acres of government land without permission.
Tamil Nadu wants the university removed so it can build an open-air jail.
SASTRA has offered other pieces of land instead.
The state says those properties are not as good as the disputed land.
The court said the university might pay for another suitable site chosen by the state.
The judges said they were not excusing the alleged encroachment.
They are trying to balance the state’s public project with the university’s educational use of the land.
The case was postponed while the state considers the proposal.
The Supreme Court asked Tamil Nadu to explore alternative land for its proposed open-air jail.
The case concerns 31.37 acres of government land allegedly encroached upon by SASTRA University in Thanjavur.
The university has offered three alternative parcels, while the state says they are inferior in value, access and contiguity.
The court suggested that SASTRA could pay for land selected by the state, potentially at a punitive amount above market value.
The hearing was adjourned after the state sought time to respond to the court’s suggestions.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the Tamil Nadu government and SASTRA University, formally Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy.
- What
- The court asked Tamil Nadu to consider alternative land instead of immediately pursuing eviction and demolition over alleged encroachment of 31.37 acres.
- When
- The report was published on September 21; the hearing was adjourned, and the article also refers to earlier orders dated January 9 and January 15.
- Where
- The disputed land is in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, and the university is located in Thirumalaisamudram.
- Why
- The state seeks land for a proposed open-air jail, while the university wants to avoid eviction and has offered alternative land.
SASTRA University’s Position
Tamil Nadu Government’s Position
Alternative land
SASTRA University’s Position
SASTRA says it offered three alternative parcels and indicated that the state had initially shown interest in an 86.8-acre contiguous parcel.
Tamil Nadu Government’s Position
Tamil Nadu says the proposed parcels are inferior to the disputed land in value, accessibility and contiguity.
Use of the disputed land
SASTRA University’s Position
The university is using the land for academic purposes and education, a factor the Supreme Court said it was considering.
Tamil Nadu Government’s Position
The state says the university continued construction on allegedly encroached land and seeks eviction for its open-air jail project.
Public project and encroachment
SASTRA University’s Position
SASTRA’s position, as presented in court, favors resolving the dispute through an alternative site rather than eviction and demolition.
Tamil Nadu Government’s Position
The state argues that accepting an alternative arrangement could put a premium on encroachment and says its jail project has been delayed by the litigation.
- Disputed land
- 31.37 acres of government land in Thanjavur
- University
- Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA)
- State project
- A proposed open-air jail
- Alternative offer
- SASTRA offered three parcels of land to Tamil Nadu
- Court suggestion
- The state could select suitable land and SASTRA could pay for it
- Possible penalty
- The court suggested payment could be substantially above market value
- Current status
- The matter was adjourned for the state to obtain instructions