SC upholds acquisition of land for Palam Airport
New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of acquisition of land by the government for planned development of Delhi and also for expansion of Palam Airport.
A bench comprising Justices B P Singh and Altamas Kabir dismissed the petitions of Punjab Potteries, Ravi Khullar and Harichand and another whose land situated in Mahipalpur and village Nangal Dewat were acquired along with others for public purpose through a notification under section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act issued by the Lt governor Delhi on January 23,1965 and a declaration under section 6 of the Act issued on December 12,1966.
Land measuring 6241 bighas and 12 biswas was acquired in Mahipalpur and Nangal Dewat villages.
The apex court however upheld the petition filed M/s Palam Potteries holding that award made for acquisition of the land was time barred.
The Delhi high court had dismissed all the petitions.
The petitioners have contended that land was in fact acquired for the benefit of International Airport Authority of India(IAAI) and land user was changed from Green belt and Agriculture Cultivable land to Circulation Airport vide DDA resolution dated Sept.
10,1981.
The
apex
court
while
dismissing
the
appeals
and
brushing
aside
claim
for
relocation
of
the
oustees
in
its
judgment
dated
March
30
noted,"The
decision
taken
was
only
to
provide
alternative
sites
for
residence
of
the
oustees
from
village
Nangal
Dewat
in
village
Rangpuri.
The
proposal
to
allot
lands
for
setting
up
displaced
industrial
units
was
always
turned
down
and
it
was
decided
that
owners
of
such
industries
would
only
be
entitled
to
compensation
under
the
Land
Acquisition
Act.
Having
regard
to
the
material
on
record
we
are
satisfied
that
no
scheme
was
ever
framed
for
rehabilitation
of
industrial
units." UNI