Latest news with #LandAcquisitionActof1894
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Perundurai SIPCOT landowners seek compensation as per High Court order
Members of the Perundurai SIPCOT Affected People Welfare Association have urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to ensure compensation for 350 acres acquired in 1991 for the Perundurai SIPCOT project, in line with a Madras High Court order. The members submitted a petition through Minister for Housing, Prohibition, and Excise, S. Muthusamy, during the CM's visit to Perundurai on Wednesday. The petition said the State government had acquired 2,709 acres from farmers in Ingur and Perundurai villages three decades ago to establish the SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre. While 2,350 acres were acquired through direct purchase, the remaining 350 acres were acquired under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 through an Award, due to procedural hurdles. For directly purchased land, the compensation paid was ₹60,000 to ₹1.20 lakh per acre in Ingur and ₹1.50 lakh to ₹2 lakh per acre in Perundurai. However, for land acquired through the Award, only ₹29,700 per acre in Ingur and ₹34,100 per acre in Perundurai was paid, the amount deposited in court based on government valuation. Challenging this disparity, affected farmers filed eight cases. The district court ruled in favour of the farmers, ordering enhanced compensation ranging from ₹1.80 lakh to ₹2.50 lakh per acre for about 69 acres. The government and SIPCOT appealed, but the Madras High Court upheld the lower court's ruling in its final verdict on March 6, 2012, directing payment of the revised amounts. The petition alleged that even after the High Court verdict, SIPCOT had not fully disbursed the compensation. In several other cases, it said, the government and SIPCOT delayed proceedings by not filing responses, leaving many claims pending. Some farmers, it added, were unable to pursue legal remedies due to lack of documents, award copies, or awareness, or because of expired deadlines. Citing Section 28A of the Land Acquisition Act of 1894, the association urged the government to re-determine the compensation, ₹2.50 lakh per acre as base land value, plus 30% solatium, 12% additional market value, and 15% interest as per the court order. The revised compensation should be formalised through a Government Order and distributed to all affected farmers, the petition said. The petition also highlighted that SIPCOT currently leased land at ₹81 lakh per acre for industrial purposes and ₹1.62 crore for commercial use. Over 100 families, it said, lost their livelihood without receiving compensation and suffered for three decades. The association requested the CM's immediate intervention to resolve the issue.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
The land beneath our laws: From 1894 to 2025!
Company Secretary - Aditi Maheshwari & Associates. Author- The Unblinking Eye! and Walking The Rainbow of Life! India's land acquisition story is not just about transferring ownership; it's a reflection of shifting power equations—between the State and citizen, development and displacement, past and progress. The evolution of land acquisition laws from colonial-era expropriation to people-centric, transparent frameworks is one of the most significant transformations in India's legal and governance landscape. As of 2025, this evolution is not just legal—it is digital, environmental, and deeply social. The British colonial government institutionalised the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 to formalise the state's authority to acquire private land for 'public purposes.' This law was engineered more for administrative efficiency than justice. Compensation was nominal, determined by government valuation, and there was no requirement for consent or rehabilitation. Landowners were essentially dispossessed by decree. Though the Act used the language of development, it served the colonial imperative—railways, plantations, administrative buildings—disregarding indigenous rights and customary land use. Unfortunately, this paternalistic model continued long after independence, with the 1894 Act remaining in force until the 21st century. Despite India's transition to democracy, the 1894 law lingered, largely unchanged. Attempts to amend it in the 1960s failed to address its core problems: forced acquisition, poor compensation, and complete neglect of rehabilitation. The discontent was palpable in countless agitations across the country—from Narmada Bachao Andolan to Bhatta-Parsaul—each highlighting the deep distrust between landowners and the State. By the early 2010s, the need for a comprehensive overhaul was undeniable. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR Act) was enacted in 2013 to replace the outdated 1894 Act. The new law reversed the principle of acquisition—from the State's right to the people's consent. It introduced: Enhanced compensation (up to 4× market rate in rural areas), Mandatory consent (70% for PPPs, 80% for private projects), Social Impact Assessments (SIA), Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) as enforceable rights, Return of unused land within five years, Transparency and public accountability mechanisms. While pathbreaking in intent, the rollout has been uneven across states. Implementation challenges, bureaucratic delays, and dilution attempts through state-specific amendments have blunted its full impact. 2014–2025: India has seen mixed outcomes post-LARR. On one hand, it has fostered a more balanced acquisition ecosystem in urban infrastructure, railways, and industrial corridors. On the other, challenges in rural and tribal areas persist—particularly with laws like the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 which circumvent LARR protections. Several developments post-2020 have shaped the current land acquisition climate: a) Environmental and procedural reforms In 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways mandated fixed timelines for land acquisition and clearances to avoid project delays, particularly for national highways. This move is aimed at de-bureaucratising acquisition while maintaining regulatory integrity. b) Digital modernisation Under the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), states like Chandigarh have digitised land mapping using GIS and drones, reducing fraudulent claims and simplifying acquisition logistics. Aadhaar-enabled identification and blockchain-backed registries are also being piloted in several districts. c) Judicial Intervention The Supreme Court of India, in a landmark 2025 ruling, asserted that land compensation cannot be mechanical. In the Noida land acquisition case, it directed full compensation to farmers even after a 30-year delay—reaffirming the primacy of equity over technicality. d) State-led innovations: Land pooling models States like Punjab have introduced voluntary land pooling schemes to enable urban expansion. Though these are touted as development-friendly and consent-based, experts caution against the dilution of safeguards provided under the LARR Act. Outlook as of mid‑2025: Progress with Caveats. As India recalibrates its development trajectory, the status of land acquisition presents a mixed yet hopeful picture. Several key trends define the present scenario: Fast-track infrastructure projects: Mandatory timelines for land acquisition and statutory clearances have streamlined national highway projects. The procedural predictability is attracting more bidders and reducing project delays. Return of unused land: Reinforcing LARR's spirit, amendments to the National Highways Act now obligate the return of acquired land if not utilised within five years, strengthening accountability. Digital and transparent acquisition systems: Unified digital land records, GIS-based mapping, and real-time tracking of acquisition status have made the process more transparent and less prone to manipulation. Judicial checks on arbitrary compensation: Courts are increasingly intervening to ensure that compensation considers location, future development potential, and equitable treatment of all affected parties. Social and environmental justice gaps remain: The Social Impact Assessment mechanism still lacks depth in capturing environmental and gender-specific impacts. Particularly in tribal and ecologically sensitive zones, assessments often remain perfunctory. Land is not merely an economic asset in India—it is emotion, identity, and legacy. As development intensifies, the State must evolve from being an acquirer to an enabler. This means: Expanding LARR's framework to include climate resilience, biodiversity valuation, and gender parity in compensation. Investing in local capacity building, especially for panchayats and district magistrates who anchor acquisition processes. Revisiting exemption laws like the Coal Bearing Areas Act, to align with constitutional rights and ecological mandates. Strengthening tribal protections, especially in Scheduled Areas, under PESA and FRA laws to make consent not just procedural but meaningful. India's land acquisition journey—from colonial extraction to constitutional empowerment—reflects its democratic maturation. The LARR Act of 2013 was a turning point, but as of 2025, it needs strengthening, not rollback. The challenge now is to build on its ethical foundations, reinforce justice, and recognise land acquisition not as a transaction—but a transformation. Only then can we say the law truly serves the people it affects most. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
The Print
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Aligarh Muslim University students protest against takeover of land by civic authorities
The protest was triggered by the sudden arrival of Aligarh Nagar Nigam officials at the university campus on Thursday. The officials erected a signboard marking the land as government property. The demonstration culminated at the Sir Syed Gate, where the protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the district magistrate to officials. Aligarh (UP), May 2 (PTI) A group of students in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) staged a protest march on the campus on Friday against the Nagar Nigam's takeover of 41 bighas of land belonging to the university's Riding Club. The memorandum given to the district magistrate urged for an immediate and impartial inquiry into the 'unilateral takeover' of the land, which the university asserts has been in its possession since 1940, having been acquired under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. The AMU Teachers' Association was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Friday evening to assess the implications of this action of the municipal authorities. In an official release, the university said it is 'taking all necessary legal steps to retain the land'. PTI COR CDN RC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
AMU fumes as civic body claims ownership of horse riding field
Agra: An urgent meeting was convened at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Thursday after the municipal corporation installed a signboard on a 4.105-acre plot used by the university for horse riding, asserting ownership of the land. The sign, put up on Wednesday, read: "This property belongs to Aligarh nagar nigam ," prompting a strong reaction from university officials. AMU authorities said that the land used as a horse riding field has been in the university's possession for nearly 80 years and was legally acquired under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. The university said "it had received no prior notice from the municipal corporation and is now pursuing legal action to assert its claim". Shakeel Ahmed, AMU professor and member-in-charge of property and waqf, said, "We are taking this matter seriously and preparing to approach a higher authority. This land belongs to the university, and we have all the documents to prove it. The signboard was installed without informing us or giving us a chance to present our case. This is a serious issue, and we will move to the appropriate forum." In response, Aligarh municipal commissioner Vinod Kumar said, "As per our records and revenue documents, the land belongs to Aligarh nagar nigam. After due verification of the revenue record, the land was reclaimed." Agra: An urgent meeting was convened at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Thursday after the municipal corporation installed a signboard on a 4.105-acre plot used by the university for horse riding, asserting ownership of the land. The sign, put up on Wednesday, read: "This property belongs to Aligarh nagar nigam," prompting a strong reaction from university officials. AMU authorities said that the land used as a horse riding field has been in the university's possession for nearly 80 years and was legally acquired under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. The university said "it had received no prior notice from the municipal corporation and is now pursuing legal action to assert its claim". Shakeel Ahmed, AMU professor and member-in-charge of property and waqf, said, "We are taking this matter seriously and preparing to approach a higher authority. This land belongs to the university, and we have all the documents to prove it. The signboard was installed without informing us or giving us a chance to present our case. This is a serious issue, and we will move to the appropriate forum." In response, Aligarh municipal commissioner Vinod Kumar said, "As per our records and revenue documents, the land belongs to Aligarh nagar nigam. After due verification of the revenue record, the land was reclaimed."
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
AMU challenges takeover of prime land by Nagar Nigam, claims legal ownership
Aligarh, Authorities at the Aligarh Muslim University are mulling to take legal action after the Aligarh Nagar Nigam took over 41 bighas of prime land currently under the university's Riding Club, claiming the land belonged to the civic body. The estimated market value of the disputed land exceeds ₹126 crore, sources said. In a swift operation on Wednesday, Nagar Nigam officials asserted ownership of the land and accused the Aligarh Muslim University of "illegally occupying" the property. Chief municipal officer Vinod Kumar said, "AMU is unlawfully holding on to large chunks of government land. We are identifying such plots and taking appropriate action. All necessary procedural steps were followed before Wednesday's move." According to municipal officials, AMU was asked to furnish ownership documents for the land but failed to do so a claim the university strongly refuted. Shakeel Ahmad Khan, member in-charge of AMU properties, told reporters, "We did not receive a single formal notice on this issue. We came to know informally that something was being planned, so we verbally informed the Nagar Nigam officials that we were ready to present documents upon receiving a written notice. However, our offer was ignored." AMU's chief spokesperson Vibha Sharma said the university promptly issued an official statement following Wednesday's action. "AMU acquired the land more than 80 years ago under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 through a government order. The university maintained continuous possession of the land for the past eight decades," Sharma said, adding that the university was not served a formal notice before the takeover. She also confirmed that the university was in the process of initiating legal proceedings to reclaim the land. "We are taking all necessary legal steps to re-establish AMU's rightful ownership of the land," Sharma said. The Nagar Nigam's action has sparked outrage across the AMU community. Former AMU vice-chancellor Lt Gen Zameeruddin Shah told PTI, "It is difficult to understand how such drastic action could be taken without following the due legal process. All the relevant documents are in place, and I am confident that they will stand scrutiny in a court of law." Former AMU students' union president Faizul Hasan demanded the resignation of senior varsity officials, alleging negligence and holding them responsible for the "crisis". A senior AMU official, requesting anonymity, questioned the municipality's claim. "This land was not under the jurisdiction of the Aligarh municipality when AMU acquired it in the early 1940s. The Nagar Nigam's claim is baseless," the official said. Historian Rahat Abrar, an expert on the Aligarh Movement, also weighed in. "This particular tract was selected by then vice-chancellor Ziauddin in the 1940s for establishing a medical college. Even a foundation stone was laid there. The idea that such a vital institutional plan would be carried out on a disputed land is unthinkable," Abrar said. He added that earlier the AMU administration designated officials often retired state revenue officials to manage land and property records. "This system has weakened in recent years, contributing to the current situation," Abrar said. AMU's top officials convened an emergency meeting on Thursday and said a formal decision on the university's next course of action would be announced soon.
