All 949 land owners should get plots: SC

R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, March 25

The Supreme Court today ruled that all 949 persons whose land was acquired in 2009 for two projects in Ludhiana were entitled to allotment of plots under the oustees policy.

Further, all 164 structure holders, 128 in case of Missing Link-II project and 36 in the residential urban estate project, will be entitled to allotment of plots. A Bench comprising Justices Anil R Dave and AK Sikri delivered the verdict on a batch of appeals by Mohan Singh Gill and others, challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s April 29, 2011, order dismissing their plea against land acquisition.

The SC also set aside the excess land acquired. It declared it bad in law. “We find strength in the submission of the appellants that the hidden purpose for acquiring surplus land was to develop it for commercial purpose so that finances can be arranged for construction of roads or other purposes. This cannot be treated as public purpose,” the Bench said.