Ramdev’s Solan land: HP govt to take final call within a week
SHIMLA: After Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust, headed by yoga guru Ramdev, unconditionally withdrew its petition from the high court earlier this month, the Himachal Pradesh government will now take the final call on renewal of lease for the controversial chunk of land in Sadhuphul in Solan district.
“The matter will be placed before the cabinet for its consideration,” said a government official, who requested anonymity. The cabinet is expected to go into huddle on March 30 to discuss the matter.
The trust had applied for renewing lease of 96 bighas of the land in Sadhuphul, which had earlier been cancelled by the Congress government after it took over the reins in 2012.
The cabinet, that met last month, had laid down the condition that Ramdev’s request can only be considered provided the trust unconditionally withdraws his petition against the state government orders from the HC.
After the cabinet gave its nod for considering Ramdev’s request, the revenue department communicated to Ramdev’s close aide, Acharya Balkishan, to unconditionally withdraw the case. Recently, the government had sought opinion from the law department, which observed that the matter related to allocation of land to Ramdev’s trust as purely administrative. The matter was then placed before the cabinet for its consideration last month. The revenue department said Ramdev’s request for land allocation can only be considered if the case is withdrawn from the court.
ABOUT THE ISSUE
The previous government, led by Prem Kumar Dhumal, had allocated 96.5 bighas of land to the yogpeeth for setting up of a herbal garden at Chauhada village near Sadhuphul, close to f
However, after taking over the reins, chief minister Virbhadra Singh-headed cabinet recommended cancellation of the land lease. Later, the district administration took possession of the land. Meanwhile, Ramdev moved court that ordered status quo. The government has again moved a case for allotting the land to Ramdev-headed trust.