The Allahabad High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 1 Crore on Uttar Pradesh government in a land acquisition matter of Loni, Ghaziabad. The court has directed the government to deposit the fine in the Court before September 15, 2016 which has been fixed as next date of hearing.
The Bench comprising justice Tarun Agarwala and justice Vipin Sinha passed the above order while hearing a petition filed some residents of Loni, Ghaziabad. While imposing the fine Court has directed state government to file a counter affidavit within two weeks, which has to be sworn by an officer not below the rank of secretary.
About 105 acres of land of Noor Nagar and Loni, Ghaziabad was acquired for UPSIDC in the year 1973. But neither any physical possession was taken nor any award was made for the acquisition to the land owners.
Earlier, the land owners had filed petitions before the High Court which gave decision in 2014 with a direction to the state government to exempt the land from acquisition. However by the impugned order instead of exemption of the land the state authority directed to the land acquisition officer to take recourse to acquire the land under the new land acquisition act of 2013.