The Supreme Court has allowed petitioners to seek review before the Rajasthan High Court in a dispute concerning government land in Village Bajor, Sikar, which was originally allotted to the Government Higher Secondary School, Bajor, for use as a playground and was subsequently proposed for allotment for a Desert Safari and Resort.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Suryakant, Justice Joymala Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana was hearing a Special Leave Petition against the Rajasthan High Court’s dismissal of a PIL concerning the proposed allotment of government land in Bajor.

The SLP challenged the proposed allotment of 17 khasras measuring about 16.68 hectares to M/s Bajor Desert Safari and Resort. The petitioners had also raised concerns regarding the land’s proximity to the Aravalli range, its environmental significance and the alleged impact of the proposed allotment on the natural flow of rainwater from the hills.

The Supreme Court, however, focused on the school playground land. It noted that the 2-hectare parcel, originally allotted to the Government Higher Secondary School, Bajor, was subsequently renumbered. The Court observed that this fact of renumbering apparently had not been brought to the Rajasthan High Court’s notice when the PIL was dismissed.

The Court accordingly disposed of the SLP with liberty to the petitioners to file a review petition before the Rajasthan High Court, requesting the High Court to examine the issue and pass an appropriate order.

The petitioners were also permitted to raise the factual issue concerning the school playground land in writ petition which is pending before the High Court and in which cancellation of the playground allotment has also been challenged.