High court quashes UP govt over acquisition of land in NOIDA

In another setback to Mayawati government, the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday quashed acquisition of nearly 600 hectares of land in two villages in Greater NOIDA.

Acting on petitions by farmers, a division bench comprising Justice Sunil Ambawani and Justice SS Tiwari set aside the acquisition of 589.13 hectares of land in Patwari and Dewla villages, falling under Dadri tehsil of Gautambuddh Nagar district.

The land was acquired by the state government through notifications in March 2008 and May 2008 for building residential complexes in Greater NOIDA area neighbouring Delhi.

The order came a fortnight after the Supreme Court struck down acquisition of 156 hectares of land by the state government in village Shahberi in the area, saying the authorities were "subserving" private builders in the name of public interest.

The apex court on July 6 upheld the Allahabad High Court order which quashed the land acquisition by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority under the urgency clause of the Land Acquisition Act and directed to return the property to the farmers.

The Authority and builders had moved the apex court challenging the High Court decision.