Issuing a directive in this regard, the Bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam transferred the five petitions to itself while agreeing with the present state Government that all matters related to the lawsuits must be heard by the apex court.

The apex court is already seized of another petition filed by advocate Vishwanath Chaturvedi raising similar arguments while challenging the allotment of plots meant for the Economically Weaker Sections.

The petitions in the High Court were filed by Shiv Singh Yadav, director (Finance) in the Mulayam’s government, Saroj Chaudhary, wife of former revenue secretary Ambika Chaudahry, Preeti Chaudhary, wife of former Jaunpur DM Anurag Yadav, Dulari Singh, wife of O P Singh Yadav (bureaucrat) and one Balak Ram, who were beneficiaries of the allotments.

The previous state government had allegedly allotted 28 plots in a prime locality of Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar.

Earlier, the Mayawati Government had sought permission from the SC to initiate criminal action against beneficiaries of the plots on the basis of an inquiry report by Lucknow District Commissioner Vijay Shankar Pandey.

The apex court in its September 12, 2005 interim order had restrained the state Government from handing over the possession of the plots to the beneficiaries, which included Mulayam’s kin besides some bureaucrats, till further orders.