Guj HC bench recuses itself from petition against Reliance SEZ

A division bench of the Gujarat High Court, headed by acting Chief Justice V M Sahai, has recused itself from hearing a petition against acquisition of land for a special economic zone in five villages in Jamnagar district for Reliance Project Engineering Associates.
"List these matters before a bench of which both of us are not members after obtaining nomination from the Honourable acting Chief Justice on the administrative side," the bench of Justices Sahai and R P Dholaria said on June 22.
Before passing the order, Justice Sahai said "we can't take up the case....Whatever has happened in the last two-three days has shaken our confidence."

However, he did not elaborate further on the reasons.
Local villagers, who have moved the HC, have alleged that land acquisition rules were violated while granting land to the Reliance group.
According to the petition, on November 21, 2005, the union government sanctioned SEZ for petroleum and petro- products for Reliance Project Engineering Associates by "violating" all the norms under SEZ Act.
Subsequently, 4,494 hectares of land in Navagam, Kanalus, Kanachhikari, Padana and Derachhikari were acquired by Reliance Industries Ltd in 2008, it says.