Chennai: The Thanjavur Tahsildar issued an eviction notice to well-known SASTRA University due to encroachment of government land on Friday. The Thanjavur administration issued the notice after the government rejected the plea of SASTRA seeking assignment, alienation and exchange of lands in Tirumalaisamudram village in Thanjavur.
According to a report on The Hindu, the Tahsildar in the eviction order told Shanmuga Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) to vacate 31.37 acres of government land in revenue survey numbers 140, 141, 148 and others before March 24. The Tahsildar said, if the institute fails to follow the notice then the land would be taken away at the cost and risks of the University.
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The SASTRA University was first notified about the encroachment three decades back. The then District Revenue Department issued an eviction notice to the University but it decided to take up a legal route.
In September 2018, after a long legal battle the Court judgment came in favour of the government. Therefore, the University yet again submitted to the government seeking assignment, alienation or exchange of lands at the village in Thanjavur.
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However, the government rejected the plea and issued a GO no.84 of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department on February 23. Following this, Additional Collector (Revenue) Sukhaputra visited the University on Friday and pasted the notice.
The SASTRA University was first started in 1984 on 232 acres of land with college buildings, hostels and guest houses. The SASTRA University provides 119 courses in 10 streams including Engineering, Science, Education, Management, Law and the Arts.