Explain ‘dubious land transaction’: Allahabad HC to Gr Noida Authority

The prime allegations in the petition were two-fold: Tenure holders — Kishan Lal and a few others — first accepted compensation against acquisition in 2008. Subsequently, under the “land-in-lieu-of-land” policy of the government in 2011 they were given land along NH-91.

Over the next couple of months, the land was transferred to builders, duly approved by the Greater Noida Authority.

The then Vice-Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, Kartar Singh, and his wife and son allegedly benefited in another way, the petitioner alleged.

“After Section 4 and Section 6 notifications for acquiring land in Badalpur were issued, they bought land and became ‘tenure holders’ in that area. Then, when the land-in-lieu-of-land policy came in, they showed themselves as affected parties and got land along NH-91. This was subsequently sold to builders,” Mrs Kaman’s lawyer Pankaj Dubey said.

On May 25, the bench questioned the conduct of the Authority. “The records reflect that the officers of the Greater Noida, most of them holding the highest post in their respective department, have made mockery of the entire system and have created a situation where a common man has been led to believe that everything is possible in the State, you only need good connections.”