HC rejects pleas against land acquisition for Mohali Sectors 76-80

The development assumes significance as the dismissal of petitions would mean a green signal for allotment of over 220 plots which had come to a halt in 2001. A land of over 120 acres was challenged by the petitioners. Except the land in dispute,over 120 acres,the remaining area stands developed by the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA).

The petitioners,as many as 56 petitions,had challenged the land acquisition made in February 2000 on the ground that the Punjab government had not followed the procedure at the time of acquisition. Of the several technical and other grounds taken for opposing the acquisition,the petitioners had contended that the State after issuance of notification under Section 4 had acquired the land and not issued notification under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act.

The petitioners had alleged that no objections were invited by the State. The petitioners had demanded fixing of sale and purchase price of the plots on some rational basis.

On the other hand,counsel for PUDA and Punjab government had claimed that complete procedure was followed by the State at the time of acquisition. Moreover,the Punjab government had submitted that no prejudice was caused to the petitioners by acquiring the land. After several bouts of litigation,of over a decade,the High Court today dismissed the petitions filed by the land owners who had refused to accept alternative sites in lieu of their land.

Also,the landowners had refused to accept monetary compensation for their land acquired in Sectors 76 to 80.