SC dismisses plea challenging land acquistion for RIL's SEZ

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by farmers and landowners in Haryana challenging acquisition of land for setting up of a special economic zone by Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan refused to entertain the plea seeking to set aside land acquisition. The petitioners had argued that the state government bought land in a malafide manner to favour the company.

As many as 16 farmers and landlords had challenged the notifications issued under Sections 4 and 6 of Land Acquisition Act, 1894 that authorised state governments to acquire farm land for "public purpose".

Terming the acquisitions as illegal, the petitioners said the land was acquired by Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation for public purpose and was later transferred to Reliance for setting up an SEZ.

According to them, the acquisitions were illegal as the public purpose ceased to exist after the land acquired by HSIDC was merged with Reliance's SEZ.

They alleged that land measuring around 1,800 acre in Harsu, Gurgaon, with current market price of nearly Rs 1.5 crore per acre was given to Reliance at just Rs 27 lakh per acre which was against the interests of farmers.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had dismissed their petitions seeking to stop acquiring of land in Jajjar and adjacent areas for the Reliance SEZ.