Will not recuse from acquisition hearing: SC Judge

New Delhi, October 23

Rejecting demands for recusal of Justice Arun Mishra, the Supreme Court today said he would be on the Constitution Bench hearing petitions challenging certain provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

“I am not recusing from hearing this matter,” said Justice Mishra while pronouncing a verdict of a five-judge Constitution Bench on the issue of his resucal. 

Justice Mishra said the Act was meant to take care of interests of farmers and land owners and not developers and fixed November 6 to hear arguments on merits. Various farmers associations and private individuals had demanded his recusal on the ground that he was part of a verdict pronounced last year in which he has already expressed his mind. 

Justice Mishra was part of a Bench that in February 2018 held that land acquisition by the government can’t be quashed for delay on the part of land owners in accepting compensation within five years on account of litigation.  — TNS