The fate of housing projects on nearly 5000 hectares of land in the National Capital Region (NCR) hangs in balance as the Allahabad High Court is scheduled to give its verdict today, September 21, on the 491 petitions against land acquisitions in Noida and Greater Noida.
Farmers from 63 villages have filed petitions, alleging that the Uttar Pradesh Government acquired their land by invoking the “urgency clause”, which deprived them to demand considerable compensation from the authority. A full bench of the court had on September 30 reserved its judgement in these cases after hearing the versions of the State Government, farmers, builders and buyers for more than two weeks.
“The main argument on behalf of the petitioner is that the state’s reason for invoking emergency is not genuine, it is just a tailor made justification,” said Pankaj Dubey, Counsel for farmers.
In July this year, the Supreme Court struck down the acquisition of 156 hectares in Noida extension as illegal. The Supreme Court agreed with the Allahabad High Court which said 156 hectares in the Shaberi Village in Greater Noida had been taken from farmers for industrial projects, but was actually being sold to commercial developers for high-profitable apartment complexes.
The Allahabad High Court had struck down Greater Noida Authority’s land acquisition in Patwari village, a part of Noida Extension.
The authorities hope to get a nod for out-of-court deals they have struck with some villages, while farmers want their land back for a better bargain. In case of an “adverse” judgment, the entire Noida Extension project may be scrapped.
The land wars between farmers and the Government has also become a political flashpoint as Uttar Pradesh goes to polls next year. With the stakes quite high both farmers and investors hope the court with safeguard their interests.
