Allotment of Noida land to Ambuja Cements challenged in HC

The Allahabad High Court today sought a detailed reply from the Uttar Pradesh government on a petition challenging the allotment of land, spread across three villages in Noida, to Gujarat-based Ambuja Cements.
A division bench comprising Justices Bharti Sapru and Shashi Kant ordered that on the next date of hearing on July 12, the state's principal secretary for industrial development shall file an affidavit explaining when the land was acquired and the company deposited the money for the allotment.
The order was passed on a petition filed by Mahesh and others, who have claimed that land in Badalpur, Dhum Manikpur and Badhpura villages had been acquired by the UP State Industrial Development Corporation in the name of "planned industrial development" but was later "illegally" allotted in favour of the company.

Although an affidavit was filed by the state government, the court said that it did not contain sufficient details. More time was sought by Additional Advocate General Vinod Kant for filing a detailed affidavit after which the matter was posted for further hearing on July 12.