New circle rates not excessive, Delhi govt tells high court

The AAP government today claimed in the Delhi High Court that its notification enhancing circle rates by three times for acquiring agricultural land in the city was "not excessive" and "aimed at checking proliferation of black money".
"The notification is an exercise aimed at checking the proliferation of black money and undervaluation of instruments preventing loss to the public exchequer, discouraging land grabbing and ensuring payment of fair compensation to the villagers for the sale of agricultural land," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath was told.
Additional Standing Counsel Sanjoy Ghose, appearing for the Delhi government, defended its stand and told the court that the "rates are not excessive and have been notified considering the rates prevailing in the market".

Ghose, while filing an affidavit on behalf of the state government, submitted "It would not be in public interest for this court to interfere" in a PIL seeking quashing of its notification enhancing circle rates by three times.
"The committee constituted in terms of section 27 (3) of Indian Stamp Act examined the rates at which identical nature of properties were registered by the office of Sub-Registrar, rates offered and displayed at the various property related portals etc. And recommended district-wise determination of rate for agriculture land in Delhi which is both logical and reasonable," the affidavit said.
It also said it is well within the legislative competence of Delhi government and they have "power to issue notification and the said power has not been conferred upon the LG".

The affidavit was filed in response to a plea by a city Congress leader Naresh Kumar, seeking direction to the Delhi government to fix uniform rates for agricultural land throughout the capital instead of determining different rates for different areas so as to protect the right of equality of all farmers.
The plea contended the August 4, 2015 notification raised the circle rates in a discriminatory manner and thus be declared as "null and void".