SC upholds Allahabad HC verdict on Noida land acquisition

The Supreme Court today upheld the Allahabad High Court judgement declaring as valid acquisition of land between 2006 and 2009 in 65 villages of Noida and Greater Noida, adjacent to the national capital.
A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu dismissed a batch of appeals filed by farmers as well as Noida and Greater Noida authorities against the high court's October 21, 2011, verdict.
The high court had refused to quash land acquisition and had directed that 10 per cent of the developed land be given to farmers.
While around 850 farmers had approached the apex court against the land acquisition, the Noida and Greater Noida authorities had challenged the high court verdict which had also said that 10 per cent of the developed land should be given to the farmers besides granting them additional compensations.

The bench, also comprising justices A K Sikri and Arun Mishra, declined to interfere with the high court order.
Advocate Surat Singh, who represented the farmers, said that around 64 per cent of enhancement of compensation will be given, that is, from Rs 850 to Rs 1400 per sq yard.
The 22,000 hectares of land was acquired by these two authorities in 2006.
The high court, in its judgement, had observed that there were certain illegalities in land acquisition process of Uttar Pradesh government as right of hearing was not given to the farmers.