06 July,2011 07:36 AM IST | | MiD DAY Correspondent
Acquisition policy faces flak; court calls it anti-people
There is hope for Uttar Pradesh farmers. Making strong observations on the issue of land acquisition policy of the state government, particularly in Sahberi village, the Supreme Court on Tuesday termed Chief Minister Mayawati's policy as 'anti-people'. The apex court said that poor people are being driven out of their land for building malls in the state.
Calling the Land Acquisition Act as an 'engine of oppression' the Bench of Justice GS Singhvi and Justice AK Ganguly stated that the state is taking advantage of the Act, instead of protecting land owners.
The apex court was hearing a petition filed by Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority and real estate developers Supertech and Amrapali. "In the name of development the government is acquiring land through the law and then handing it to private builders for hotel, multiplex, malls, residential townships that are beyond the common man," the Bench observed.
On one of the senior counsel representing a builder submitting that the residential buildings are being built for the needy, the Bench said: "Residential areas for whom? You are calling them needy; those people whose land you are taking are they not needy? Look at your advertisement. You are giving them swimming pools, tennis court, ayurvedic massage centre."
Senior Counsel Dushyant Dave, appearing for the builders, argued that out of the total area allocated for the project, 19% was reserved for residential purposes. He said that the land owners were being paid the requisite compensation over a scheduled period.
Appearing for the state government, Senior Counsel Nageshwar Rao on the other hand argued that the state government was not informed about certain aspects of the project by the Greater Noida Authority.
