India, Jan. 12 -- The Madras High Court on Friday directed the State Government to evict Shanmuga Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA), a deemed university in Thanjavur, from 31.37 acres of Government land in its occupation for nearly 40 years. Division Bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and C Kumarappan directed Thanjavur Collector to evict the educational institution from the Government property, required for the establishment of a prison, within four weeks.

After recording the Government's submission that it required the 31.37 acres to establish a prison, the judges said, "Under these circumstances, the petitioner has not established even a semblance of legal right for the purpose of sustaining their request either be...