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The Allahabad High Court ( Lucknow Bench) recently, sought the reply of Ayodhya District Administration as to whether there are any guideline or criteria laid down for the purchase of land for the proposed Ayodhya International Airport.

There was a plea moved in the High court which stated that, the administration has been encroaching large chunk of land illegally and even forcibly compelling several land owners to sell their land to the administration at inadequate rate, for the purchase of construction of an Airport in Daramdaspur Shahadat village.

The Divison Bench Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Saurabh Lavania heard the plea and directed the District Magistrate, Sub-divisional Magistrate and Tehsildar concerned to appear before the Court on June 29 through video conferencing to explain their position on the allegations made in the petition.

In the present plea, one petitioner Panchram Prajapati and others alleged that their land was being forcibly taken for the airport at Daramdaspur Shahadat village without their consent and without following provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

“land is being encroached for construction of an Airport in gross violation of their right to property as also to be treated in a fair and reasonable manner.” – alleged the petitioner.

The petitioners further alleged that, “There is no criteria fixed as to how the lands are to be acquired or the same are to be purchased. If they are to be purchased at what rate, there is no guideline in this regard. Therefore, the District Authorities are acting in arbitrary manner. The allegation is also of forcibly compelling the petitioners to sell their land at inadequate rate.”

The Bench observed that,

“If land is being purchased en-masse whether there are any guideline or criteria laid down for the said purpose as to at what rate the land would be purchased and how the consideration would be paid etc?”

It was further directed that the Officers shall also apprise the Court as to when the circle rate was last revised.

“Needless to say that if the land of the petitioners has not been acquired, they cannot and would not be compelled to sell their land unless they consent to it.” – observed the Bench.

It must be noted that, the Uttar Pradesh State Government has released over Rs 321 crore for the land acquisition for the project. Earlier, the Centre had released its contribution of Rs 250 crores. In addition to it, the state government has approved Rs 1001.77 crore to purchase 555.66 acres of additional land for the construction of the international airport. So far, 377 acres of land has been made available to the Airports Authority of India for the development of the airport.

 

[Case Title- - Panchram Prajapati & Ors v State Of U.P.Thru Prin./Addl. Secy. Revenue