Data Centre – Andhra Pradesh High Court Seeks Replies on Temple Land Allotment
Data Centre – The Andhra Pradesh High Court has asked the State government and several public authorities to respond to a public interest litigation questioning the allotment of 160 acres of land belonging to the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam at Simhachalam. The land was reportedly allotted to Visag Hyper Scale Data Centre Park Ltd for a proposed data centre project.
Court Issues Notices to Government and Agencies
A division bench led by the Chief Justice issued notices to the Andhra Pradesh government, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, the State Expert Appraisal Committee, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, the Endowments Commissioner, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and the private company involved in the project.
The court directed all respondents to submit detailed counter-affidavits explaining their position on the land allotment. The matter has been listed for further hearing after the responses are filed.
PIL Challenges Transfer of Temple Property
The petition was filed by an environmental activist and national convener of Jal Biradari, who has challenged the transfer of temple-owned property for private commercial use. The petitioner has sought cancellation of the allotment, arguing that the decision was unlawful and violated constitutional provisions related to the protection of religious endowment properties.
The PIL also raised concerns about whether the land transfer complied with environmental regulations and statutory procedures. According to the petition, the authorities were required to follow a transparent process before allowing the land to be used for an industrial project.
Questions Raised Over Public Notice Process
Counsel appearing for the petitioner, advocate Challa Ajay Kumar, told the court that the land parcel is located in Adavivaram and Mudasarlova villages in Visakhapatnam Rural mandal. He argued that the 160-acre allotment was made without issuing a public notice or informing local residents and other interested parties in advance.
The petitioner maintained that such a major decision involving temple land should have been placed in the public domain before it was finalised. The plea stated that stakeholders, including devotees, local communities and environmental groups, were not given an opportunity to raise objections or provide their views.
Environmental Clearance Concerns Mentioned in Petition
The case has also brought attention to the environmental review process connected with the proposed data centre park. The petitioner has questioned whether the required assessments and approvals were properly considered before the allotment was made.
The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, State Expert Appraisal Committee and Pollution Control Board have been included as respondents because of their roles in examining environmental implications of development projects. Their replies are expected to clarify the approvals, assessments and conditions related to the proposed facility.
Authorities Expected to Present Their Stand
The High Court’s notice does not amount to a ruling on the legality of the land allotment. It requires the government departments, civic authorities and the company to place their records and explanations before the court.
The next stage of the proceedings will depend on the counter-affidavits filed by the respondents and the arguments presented by both sides. The court is likely to examine the legal status of the temple land, the process followed by the authorities and the environmental concerns raised in the PIL.