HC judges to conduct on-the-spot inspection of land acquired

Two judges' of the Allahabad High Court today decided to conduct an on-the-spot inspection of a piece of land in Greater Noida, which was acquired by Uttar Pradesh government five years ago for constructing a road connecting the township with a national highway.
The bench, comprising Justice Rakesh Tiwari and Justice Shashi Kant, directed the Chairman and CEO of Greater Noida Authority and revenue department officials to remain present during their visit to the spot, falling close to a school Dadri village, on December 26.
The court took the decision while hearing a petition filed by Virendra Garg and several others who have moved the court with the complaint that the state government had acquired their land in 2010 stating that it was required to construct a road connecting Greater Noida with National Highway no.91.

The petitioners have alleged that while as part of the acquisition process, they were made to enter into a settlement with the Greater Noida Authority which had promised to provide them with land - by way of compensation - elsewhere. The petitioners have further alleged that after a lapse of more than five years, neither have they been provided with land in an alternative locality, as promised, nor has work started for the proposed road construction project.
The judges were shown images of the acquired piece of land through a projector installed inside the courtroom, after which they observed that the situation required an on-the-spot inspection of the site.

The court, while directing all the petitioners to remain present during the inspection on December 26, also fixed January 4 as the next date of hearing in the matter.