Plea against land for SSP oustees rejected

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea by the Madhya Pradesh government and the Narmada Valley Development Authority for a modification of the 2000 and 2005 verdicts upholding land rights for adult sons of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) affected farmers.

The Social Justice Bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit noted that the state government’s application suffered from gross delay.

Appearing for the Narmada Bachao Andolan, advocate Sanjay Parikh, submitted that the Narmada Tribunal Award and the Supreme Court verdicts made it clear that all adult sons were undisputably entitled to five acres of cultivable and irrigable land, and any discrimination would lead to the violation of the constitutional rights of the oustees of the project.