SC ends 18-year land row, saves 16 Greater Noida homes from acquisition
For nearly two decades, a cluster of modest homes in Greater Noida existed in a state of uncertainty. The dispute stemmed from a 2007 acquisition of about 230 hectares, with the court allowing homeowners to seek civic amenities on payment of development charges. (HT Archive) Built on tiny plots measuring between 100 and 200 square yards, these houses belonged to families that had poured their savings into securing a roof over their heads. Since 2007, however, the homes stood in the shadow of a land acquisition drive launched by the Uttar Pradesh government for Greater Noida’s industrial expansion. By an order released on June 25, the Supreme Court finally brought that uncertainty to an end. Invoking its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to do “complete justice”, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana exempted the houses of 16 homeowners from acquisition, even while leaving intact the acquisition of the remaining land for public purposes. The ruling marks the culmination of an 18-year legal battle that began when …
