HC dismisses pleas against Smart City land acquisition

Kochi, July 26 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today dismissed a batch of writ petitions challenging the acquisition of land for the establishment of the Smart City IT park project at Kakkanad here.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice P R Raman opined that establishment of the Smart City is a dream project of the state. "No one would entertain any doubt that projects such as the IT park are bound to boost the financial position of the government and provide numerous job opportunities to the people,'' the bench said.

In the writ petition filed by M N Kochu Mohamed and other land owners the main contention raised was that the acquisition of land for the Smart City project of Dubai Internet City is not for a public purpose.

As per the government order dated December 30, 2004, the Information Technology Department accorded sanction for registration of society INFOPARK Kerala. Land owners contended that sanction of society is unconstitutional as the government cannot delegate power to a society.

UNI XR ARC AD/APA1834