(Per Ramesh Ranganathan, J.)

1. Allotment of Government land, at a nominal price, to recognized political parties for establishing their party offices is in vogue in several States and at the Centre. The Government of India is said to have formulated Policy guidelines dated 13.7.2006 for allotment of its land to recognized political parties for their party offices. In the State of Andhra Pradesh, the Government has been allotting its land to almost all recognized political parties, for locating their party offices, including the Telugu Desam Party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Telangana Rashtra Samithi etc.

2. We do not intend examining the larger issue whether allotment/alienation of Government land at nominal value, by way of sale or otherwise, to recognized political parties would fall foul of Article 14 of the Constitution of India as none of the recognised political parties other than the 3rd respondent are arrayed as respondents in this writ petition and the pleadings are wholly insufficient for such an enquiry. We shall, however, examine among other issues the question whether or not land belonging to the A.P. Housing Board, (hereinafter referred to