SC sets aside Noida Extension land acquisition

In a big blow for thousands of people who have bought property in Greater Noida the Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the land acquisition at Noida extension by the Greater Noida Authority.

The court said that the Greater Noida authorities had exercised coloured power in acquiring Noida extension.

"GNIDA allotted the land to builders in complete violation for which the land was acquired," a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly said.

The bench said even before the government approved the use of land from industrial to residential purposes, the authority allotted the land to some builders.

The bench said it need not interfere into the judgement of the division bench of the high court which held that the urgency provision applied by the authority for the acquisition of land was "entirely a colourable exercise of power."

The court said it will give detailed reasoning for arriving at this judgement later.

The apex court upheld the Allahabad High Court order which quashed the acquisition of land in Greater Noida.

The High Court in May ruled that the Greater Noida Developement Authortity did not give farmers the opportunity to file their protest at the land takeover, under section 5 of the Land Acquisition Act.

The apex court also directed the Greater Noida Industrial Authority to hand over the land to villagers and farmers.

Alongwith imposing a cost of Rs 10 lakh on the Greater Noida Industrial Authority, the court also stopped the construction by well known builders Amrapali, Mahagun, Ajnara and Supertech.

The land acquired by Greater Noida authority was 156 hectares.

With additional information from PTI