Supreme Court Criticised State Governments for Misusing Provisions of Land Acquisition

A Supreme Court bench including Justice GS Singhvi and Justice AK Ganguly on 5 July 2011 refused to stay the Allahabad High Court order quashing the notifications for land acquisition in the area adjoining New Delhi and NCR. The court slammed state governments for misusing provisions of Land Acquisition Act to divest farmers of their agricultural land and giving it to builders. The court even questioned building of hotels, malls and commercial complexes on land acquired for public purpose.

The bench made an observation that a sinister campaign has been launched by many state governments to take advantage of the law against the poor people for taking away the land and giving it to builders where multiplexes, malls, posh residential complexes are developed which are beyond the reach of common men. The bench questioned the change in land use by Uttar Pradesh government in Greater Noida.