JOIN USHousing projects get green light
The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled against plea for quashing of land acquisition proceeding in Greater Noida and Noida Extension, ending the long shadow of uncertainty hovering over more than 100 private housing projects in the region adjoining the national capital.
A bench presided over by Chief Justice H L Dattu gave a go ahead to the builders for carrying out construction activities, in a boost to hundreds of flat aspirants.
The apex court held that the conditions set by the Allahabad High Court while upholding the acquisition of land in 65 villages – 42 in Greater Noida and 23 in Noida Extension – would be effective with no further conditions.
In 2011, the High Court had ordered for enhanced compensation for villages where acquisition proceedings were allowed.
The HC then had, however, quashed the notification for acquisition of land in various other villages in Noida, Greater Noida and Noida Extension in Uttar Pradesh. The HC had then directed the Noida and Greater Noida Authority to pay additional compensation up to 64.70 per cent of the compensation paid earlier to the villagers whose land was acquired.
The HC had also allowed the petitioners’ plea for entitlement of allotment of developed abadi plot to the extent of 10 per cent of their acquired land, subject to maximum of 2,500 square metres.
Confirming the HC’s verdict, the bench dismissed a batch of appeals filed by the farmers against the validity of the land acquisition proceedings.
The court also noted that many of these farmers had accepted the compensation and that they will also get up to 10 per cent of developed land, which would serve the ends of justice.
It directed the Authority to comply with the High Court order at the earliest.The High Court judgement was challenged by authorities in both Noida and Greater Noida, with 850 petitions filed, while farmers’ groups filed 350 petitions. The bench disposed of all these petitions by a common order.