Latest news with #IAMC


Hans India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
HC sets aside GO 126 allotting 3.7 acres for International Arbitration Centre
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court division bench of Justices Kunuru Lakshman and Kalasikam Sujana on Friday 'set aside' GO 126, dated December 26-2021, allotting 3.7-acre prime land worth crores, located in Plot no.27, Survey no. 83/1, Raidurg village, Serilingampally mandal, RR district to the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre, Hyderabad. Though the court upheld GO 76 dated November 12 sanctioning Rs. 3 crore to meet the day-to-day expenditure of the centre and GO 6, dated March 17, 2022 wherein the Chief Secretary directed all departments and public sector undertakings to refer all its disputes above 3 crore to the IAMC for arbitration. The bench passed orders setting aside GO allotting 3.7 acres to IAMC, while adjudicating two PILs. The first PIL was filed by Koti Raghuntha Rao, party-in-person; the other was filed by A Venkatarami Reddy, a retired employee. The bench concluded the IAMC--which has been functioning since 2021--performance is abysmal. It expressed deep concern regarding its performance in future. As on January 29 this year the IAMC took up only 15 cases of which 11 were conducted pro-bono; only 57 mediation cases were conducted; of them 17 were conducted pro-bono. The bench cautioned the government to examine incurring of costs by referring cases to IAMC; directed the government to alter its policy of referring cases to IAMC, if costs prove a burden to the exchequer. The bench opined that it is the policy decision of the government to extend financial assistance to a new institution like IAMC at initial stage, but as time goes by, IAMC has to sustain itself financially. But going by its performance for the last five years, the bench stated that its sustenance is difficult in the long run. The bench referred to setting up of 'ICADR' (International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution) centre formed by the Government of India in 1995 to promote arbitration, but due to its abysmal performance, despite financial support, ICADR could not deliver results. The court hoped the IAMC does not go the ICADR way. Both PILs were closed.


Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Unduly hasty': Telangana High Court cancels BRS government's free land allotment to IAMC
Underlining that bona fide intentions do not justify illegal means, the Telangana High Court on Friday struck down the state government's allotment of 3.7 acres of land to the International Arbitration and Media Centre (IAMC) set up by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana. 'It is axiomatic that in order to achieve a bona fide end, the means must also justify the end. This Court is of the opinion that bona fide ends cannot be achieved by questionable means, especially when the State is involved. This Court has not been able to get any answer from the State why on a request by the allottee to the Hon'ble Minister for Urban Development, the Government granted the allotment with remarkable speed and without considering all aspects of the matter,' the court said. The IAMC was established in 2021 in Hyderabad to promote alternative dispute resolution. As a sitting CJI, Justice Ramana authored the trust deed for setting up the 'charitable public trust'. Former Supreme Court judges R V Raveendran and L Nageswara Rao were named as life trustees, while a Telangana state minister and the Telangana High Court Chief Justice were named as ex-officio trustees. A bench of Justices K Lakshman and K Sujana criticised the government for the arbitrary allotment of land with 'undue haste'. 'We would also like to point out that the conduct of the government in allotting the land was unduly hasty. It is noteworthy that possession certificate was issued in favour of the IAMC even before formulating and communicating the terms of allotment. Such hasty decisions do not bode well and often result in exercise of power contrary to the procedure. Discretionary exercise of power shall not only be fair and transparent, but also should be seen to be fair and transparent,' the court said. The land, allotted free of cost by the Bharat Rashtra Samiti government, is in Serilingampally, a revenue sub-division that also houses tech corridors, including HITEC City and Gachibowli. However, the current Congress government also defended the allotment. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is on the three-member board of trustees. The court cancelled the land allotment on the grounds that the IAMC was not eligible for free allotment of land as a 'private body'. The court held that the allotment was contrary to the rules of the Telangana Urban Areas Development Act, 1975, which provides that government land can only be disposed by way of sale or exchange or lease or public auction. The court said that the rules provide that allotment in favour of a private body can only be made if such a body is registered under the Companies Act. It then noted that, as on the date of allotment, the IAMC was not registered as a company. The court also held that, as per a 2012 government land allotment policy, land can be allotted only on market value, with free allotment contemplated only for state government departments and below poverty line families. While the IAMC argued that it was a 'public charitable trust,' the petitioners challenging the allotment argued that the body was making profits and earning remuneration. 'A private body like the IAMC can only be done for a public purpose and after collecting the applicable market value,' the high court said. Apurva Vishwanath is the National Legal Editor of The Indian Express in New Delhi. She graduated with a B.A., LL. B (Hons) from Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow. She joined the newspaper in 2019 and in her current role, oversees the newspapers coverage of legal issues. She also closely tracks judicial appointments. Prior to her role at the Indian Express, she has worked with ThePrint and Mint. ... Read More


New Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Allotment of 3.7 acres of prime land to IAMC illegal, rules Telangana HC
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Friday set aside a Government Order (GO) dated December 26, 2021, issued by the previous BRS administration allotting 3.7 acres of prime land in Raidurg to the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC). The court, however, upheld related GOs providing financial support to the IAMC and requiring referral of certain disputes to the centre. The market value of the land is around Rs 350 crore, according to sources. The then government also sanctioned a grant of Rs 50 crore for the construction of the IAMC. The foundation stone for a permanent building was laid on March 11, 2022, by the then-Chief Justice of India Justice NV Ramana in the presence of the then chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. A bench of Justice K Lakshman and Justice K Sujana was hearing PILs filed by advocates Koti Raghunatha Rao and A Venkatrami Reddy questioning the legality of the GOs granting land, funding and arbitration referrals to the IAMC. The PILs said that the IAMC was a private entity receiving state support without a legal basis. The bench held that the allotment was in breach of the 1975 Rules on alienation of state land. It ruled that land cannot be allotted free of cost to a private body unless it is for a public purpose and with the collection of market value. The bench also noted that the IAMC was not registered under the Companies Act at the time of allotment, making the process invalid. GOs on financial aid to IAMC legal, rules court The bench, however, upheld two other GOs: One providing `3 crore in financial assistance to the IAMC, and the other directing state departments and public sector undertakings to refer disputes above `3 crore to the centre for arbitration. The court found these orders consistent with the legal framework and government policy aimed at promoting institutional arbitration.


Time of India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Telangana HC cancels land allotment to International arbitration centre; says govt acted in haste, land grant violated rules
HYDERABAD: The Telangana high court on Friday set aside a 2021 govt order that allotted 3.70 acres of prime land in Hyderabad's upscale Raidurg area free of cost to the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The centre was initiated and backed by former chief justice of India, Justice N V Ramana. A division bench of Justice K Lakshman and Justice K Sujana said the state govt displayed undue haste in the allotment. The previous BRS govt had allotted land on Dec 26, 2021. The bench was hearing two PILs challenging the allotment and the financial assistance of Rs 3 crore annually to the centre. At the time, the state had also decided to get all disputes arising from its tenders and other commercial deals necessarily referred to the centre. The bench ruled that the allotment violated the Telangana Land Revenue Act and the Andhra Pradesh Alienation of State Lands Rules, 1975, which mandate market-value payment for land given to private entities. The mediation centre, not being a statutory body or registered under the Companies Act, was deemed ineligible for free land. The bench, however, agreed with the view that the institutional arbitration must be promoted by govts and upheld the state's decision to give an annual financial assistance of Rs 3 crore and automatic reference of disputes. The judges added a rider that the state must review the performance of the centre every year after the passage of five years. HC flags centre's poor performance The two PILs were filed by Koti Raghunath Rao, an advocate from Hyderabad, and A Venkatarami Reddy, a retired govt employee. Senior counsel S Satyam Reddy appeared for one petitioner and questioned the state's support to the centre, which he described as a private trust. Low caseload a concern, says high court The Telangana high court, in its order expressed concern over the poor performance of the mediation centre. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We would like to express our concern regarding the performance of the IAMC and its future." the judges said. "The statistics of the IAMC were placed before this Court. It was stated that as on 29.01.2025 only 15 arbitration cases were conducted by the IAMC. Out of the said 15 cases, 11 arbitration cases were conducted pro-bono." The high court bench pointed out that overall only 57 mediation cases were conducted by the centre, of which 17 were pro-bono. "The abysmally low caseload raises concerns regarding the future sustenance of the IAMC on its own. The govt, as a part of its policy, can provide financial assistance to a new institution like the IAMC. However, such financial assistance to a private arbitral institution cannot be perpetual," the bench added.


Time of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Telangana HC cancels land allotment to international arbitration centre in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Telangana HC Friday set aside a 2021 order of the previous BRS govt that had allotted 3.7 acres of prime land in Hyderabad's upscale Raidurg area free of cost to International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC). The centre was initiated and backed by former CJI N V Ramana. A division bench of Justices K Lakshman and K Sujana was hearing two PILs challenging the allotment of land and the financial assistance of Rs 3 crore annually to IAMC. HC noted that state govt had displayed undue haste in the allotment, violating Telangana Land Revenue Act and Andhra Pradesh Alienation of State Lands Rules, 1975, which mandate market-value payment for land given to private entities. It, however, agreed with the view that institutional arbitration must be promoted by govts and upheld the state's decision to give an annual financial assistance of Rs 3 crore.