Supreme Court stays Gujarat High Court order on taking back 108 hectares of grazing land given to Adani Group company near Mundra port

New Delhi, July 10

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed a Gujarat High Court order to the state government to resume the process of taking back nearly 108 hectares of grazing land near the Mundra port given to an Adani Group company in 2005.

Acting on an appeal filed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, a Bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan also issued notice to the petitioners on whose PIL the High Court had passed the impugned order.

The appellants had contended that the High Court’s order needed to be stayed “in the interest of justice”.

On July 5, the state government had told the High Court that it would take back ‘gauchar’ (grazing) land in question given to an Adani Group company.

“Taking note of the affidavit of the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Revenue, State of Gujarat, we require the concerned authority/officers to complete the process of resumption in accordance with law,” the High Court had ordered, posting it for further consideration on July 26.

The High Court’ order had come on a PIL filed by residents of Navinal village of Kutch district against the state’s decision to allot the ‘gauchar’ land to the Adani Group.