HC seeks clarity on land aquisition

Hearing two separate writ petitions by Riyaz Mustafa and Venkatesh Gowda, Justice DV Shylendra Kumar, pulled up Baligar and Shyam Bhat for acquiring the lands without proper reasons and procedures.

The court has strongly condemned the attitude of the government advocate for failing to provide specific answers to questions put by the Bench.

“Who proposed this project? When was it decided? Who are players in the said project? What are the basic proposal, who can make the use of land and particularly which component of aircraft and which brand manufacture,” the Court asked. The government advocate and the two officials failed to give satisfactory answers to the Bench.

The petitioner had challenged the acquisition of 1,069 acres in Dummanhalli, Singahalli, Hunasuru, Jannahalli, Khadimmanahalli and nearby villages at Bangalore North and Devanahalli taluks. The KIADB had issued the preliminary notification on January 9, 2007, and final notification on May 17, 2007.

In 2006, the high-level committee chaired by chief secretary took a decision to establish the industrial units related to aircraft manufacturing units.

The petitioner had contended that KIADB acquired the land not for public purpose, but only for private purpose.  

The government filed the objections stating that it has decided to give the acquired land to industries to meet the promise made during the Global Investors Meet.

In an another case, where petitioners Venkatesh and N Ramesh had challenged the government action of acquiring agricultural land at Nandagudi for Volvo, the Court observed that the agreement between the KIADB and Volvo was to give a jobs to families who had lost their land. When the company said it had already met its promise made when the industry was established and the petitioner was a minor at that time, the court said the State has to act in accordance with the statute while making promises.