Srikrishna, J. - (1.)Leave granted.
(2.)This group of appeals impugns the common judgment of the Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court dated 8th May, 2001 in WA 1715/1998, WA 1716/1998, WA 1720/1998, CC 114/2001, CC 115/2001 and CC 116/2001, dismissing the Letters Patent Appeals filed by the State of Andhra Pradesh and quashing a G.O. Ms. No. 38 dated 16-1-2001 (Annex P-4) issued by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
(3.)The short facts for disposal of these appeals are as under : The Government of Andhra Pradesh had taken a policy decision to encourage the functioning of Newspaper Concerns and Educational Institutions, which were finding it difficult to find land within the State at affordable prices. A large tract of 72 acres of vacant land in Survey No. 403 corresponding to T. S. No. 2 of Shaikept Village of Hyderabad District was owned by the State Government. Out of this land, an extent of 43 acres had been allotted to the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for the purpose of development of residential plots, which could be sold and proceeds thereof utilized for the formation of the Necklace road around Hussain Sagar lake. The possession of the aforesaid land was handed over to HUDA on 22-5-1993. Pursuant to its policy of granting land to members of the Fourth Estate and educational institutions, the Government resumed 10 acres out of the aforesaid 72 acres. 8 acres of land therefrom was allotted to Newspaper concerns and 2 acres of land was allotted to Roots Public School. This was done pursuant to the policy of the Government and a scheme for encouraging Newspaper Concerns and Educational Institutions and to provide incentives to them by assigning lands at affordable prices. Pursuant to the said scheme by G. O. Ms. No. 199 dated 23-2-1994, 2 acres of land was assigned to M/s. Roots Educational Society Private Limited at the rate of Rs.200/- per sq. yard and possession thereof was delivered to the said Society on 17-5-1994. By G.O. Ms. No. 800 dated 5-8-1994, 2 acres of land was assigned to M/s. DOT Publishers (Publishers of Andhra Jyothi daily Newspaper). Similarly, by another G.O. Ms. No. 1096 dated 31-10-1994 (Annex P-1), two acres of land was assigned on M/s. Balaji Administrative Services (P) Ltd. By G. O. Ms. No. 1098 dated 31-10-1994 (Annex P-1), two acres of land was assigned to M/s. Maharshi Publishers Private Ltd. and by G. O. Ms. No. 1099 dated 31-10-1994 (Annex P-1) two acres of land were assigned to M/s. Creative Industries private Limited.