While noting that encroachment on public land cannot be encouraged, the bench emphasised that SASTRA performs a public welfare function and that its functioning should not be disrupted meanwhile. The dispute involves 31.37 acres integrated with the university’s campus.
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SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a Madras High Court direction ordering the eviction of Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) from government land in Thanjavur, saying the Tamil Nadu government should not make a dispute of a “prestige issue.”

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vijay Bishnoi asked the state government, represented by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, to set up a high-powered committee of three senior state officials to consider SASTRA’s representation and accord the institution a hearing before deciding the issue in four weeks.

Asking the state to act “sensitively” while dealing with public educational institutions, the bench said till the time the representation is decided by the panel, the functioning of the institution should not be hindered.

Notes encroachment, but emphasises welfare role

The bench, however, noted that the encroachment on public land cannot be encouraged.

The present case involved a public educational institution performing a welfare function and not a commercial enterprise, it said, adding that a welfare state must take into account the role played by such institutions in furthering public interest.

“The land has been utilised for decades by a university performing a public function. States must be sensitive in dealing with such institutions,” the bench said, granting interim relief to SASTRA.

The interim order came on an appeal filed by SASTRA challenging the Madras High Court judgment of January 9.

The high court had upheld the state’s decision rejecting the university’s request for assignment or exchange of government land and directed implementation of an eviction notice within four weeks.

Land dispute centres on 31.37 acres within campus

At the heart of the dispute is 31.37 acres of government land that is interspersed with and contiguous to SASTRA’s own patta land.

According to the university, the disputed land forms an inseparable part of its campus that houses academic buildings, hostels, utility infrastructure, and has access roads.

In its plea before the top court, SASTRA contended that enforcement of the high court’s eviction order would severely disrupt the functioning of the university and affect more than 12,000 students enrolled across disciplines, including law, engineering, sciences, management and liberal arts.

Long legal trail from 2018 to 2026 verdict

The top court had in 2018 had dismissed a plea of SASTRA.

The bench had, however, granted liberty to the university to submit representations to the state authorities seeking regularisation or alternative relief.

Pursuant to the order, SASTRA submitted several representations between 2018 and 2021, including proposals for the exchange of alternative land parcels.

Although the Tamil Nadu government constituted a committee to examine the issue, the representations were ultimately rejected in 2022.

The rejection was followed by an eviction notice on February 25, 2022, prompting SASTRA to approach the Madras High Court.

While those writ petitions were pending, the high court passed interim orders on August 8, 2022 and September 6, 2022, recording that classrooms and hostels were functioning on the disputed land.

The court placed the land under its own control pending final adjudication, restrained further construction, and clarified that students’ education would not be disrupted, though continued use was made subject to the outcome of the case.

High court eviction order triggers appeal

On January 9, 2026, the high court dismissed the writ petitions, upheld the state’s rejection of SASTRA’s representations and directed eviction.

The university has stated that government officials came to the campus the very next day to assert control over portions of the disputed land.

The SASTRA is a prominent private deemed university in Thanjavur’s Thirumalaisamudram.

Published on January 15, 2026