New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a Telangana High Court judgment that quashed the free allotment of prime government land in Hyderabad to the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC).
A Bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice S.V.N. Bhatti dismissed the special leave petitions filed by IAMC challenging the High Court’s decision.
“We are not inclined to interfere with the judgment(s) and order(s) of the High Court; hence, the special leave petitions are dismissed,” the Court held.
Earlier, Justice Satish Chandra Sharma had recused himself from hearing the matter.
The Telangana High Court, in its judgment delivered in June 2025, had struck down the State Government’s decision to allot land of substantial market value in Hyderabad free of cost to IAMC.
The Centre was established in 2021 during the tenure of then Chief Justice of India Justice N.V. Ramana.
The High Court had set aside the Government order (G.O. Ms. No. 126) dated December 26, 2021, through which land situated in Raidurg village of Ranga Reddy district was allotted to IAMC without consideration.
Holding the allotment to be impermissible, the High Court had observed that the distribution of State largesse cannot be undertaken free of cost and that the government, as a trustee of public resources, must ensure adequate compensation while parting with land or natural resources, unless the allotment serves a larger public purpose and is in favour of a non-profit institution.
However, while invalidating the land allotment, the High Court had upheld the State Government’s decision to grant financial assistance of Rs 3 crore to IAMC and the policy decision directing State departments and public sector undertakings to refer disputes involving amounts above Rs 3 crore to IAMC for arbitration.
With the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the special leave petitions, the Telangana High Court judgment has attained finality.
