In yet another setback to the Mayawati government, the Allahabad high court today quashed acquisition of nearly 600 hectares of land in two villages in Greater Noida.
Acting on a batch of petitions by farmers, a division bench comprising Justice Sunil Ambawani and Justice S.S. Tiwari set aside the acquisition of 589.13 hectares of land in Patwari and Dewla villages, falling under Dadri tehsil of Gautambuddh Nagar district.
The land was acquired by the state government through notifications in March 2008 and May 2008 for building residential complexes in Greater Noida area neighbouring Delhi.
The order came barely a fortnight after the Supreme Court had struck down acquisition of 156 hectares of land by the state government in village Shahberi in the area, saying the authorities were 'subserving' private builders in the name of public interest.
The apex court had on July 6 upheld the Allahabad High Court order which had quashed the land acquisition by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority under the urgency clause of the Land Acquisition Act and directed that the property be returned to the farmers.
The authority and builders had moved the apex court challenging the high court decision.
Today's order was passed on petitions filed by more than 100 residents of the two villages who had moved the court challenging acquisition of their land by the state government without being given an opportunity to raise their objections.
They had alleged that they were not offered adequate compensation. The court was of the view that since the land was acquired for residential purposes, there was 'no urgency involved' and hence 'acquisition should not have taken place without giving the affected parties an opportunity for hearing, which would have facilitated payment of adequate compensation'.
The High Court had set aside the acquisition of land in Sahberi village in Greater Noida area on May 12 this year and that of another 73 acres in Surajpur Pargana village on May 13.