SC refuses to stay land acquisition process for Ambani SEZ

The Supreme Court today refused to stay the land acquisition process relating to the Mukesh Ambani-promoted Mumbai Special Economic Zone in Raigad district of Maharashtra.     

The Mumbai SEZ had sought the stay on the grounds that if the acquisition is not completed by June 8, the entire process will lapse under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.     

A Bench headed by Justice Markandey Katju, while adjourning the matter till June 5, gave liberty to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Maharashtra Government and others to file replies in the meantime.     

Earlier the Bombay High Court had asked the SEZ to move the Supreme Court for direction to the Maharashtra Government on expediting land acquisition.     

The Vacation Bench of Justices Anand Nirgude and Rajesh Ketkar granted the SEZ the liberty to move the apex court for direction as public interest petitions pertaining to the SEZ are pending before the Supreme Court.     

The SEZ had moved the High Court seeking direction to the state government for a speedy completion of land acquisition by the district administration for its SEZ coming up in Raigad district. It pleaded that two years after the state government issued a declaration of "intention to acquire the land" for the company, the final award had not been made.