Don’t dispossess land owners: HC on expressway

Passing interim orders on a batch of writ petitions, a division bench comprising Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice V Bhavani Subbaroayan, on Tuesday, said, “Considering the sensitivity of the matter and the category of persons from whom lands are proposed to be acquired, we deem it appropriate that we clarify the aspect which has been placed before us by the Advocate General that there is no threat of dispossession of the land owners so that it will allay fears of land owners.” “The challenge to the land acquisition proceedings in whatever manner done could be heard and decided on merits and in accordance with the law,” the bench added.

Earlier, counsels appearing for the farmers informed the bench that the State attacking farmers and protestors has led to a fear psychosis that they would be thrown out any time and their lands taken forcibly. To this, Advocate General Vijay Narayan reiterating his submission that there is no imminent threat of dispossession, handed over pamphlets created to assail the fear among farmers about the project.

However, the bench held, “We find that there is no whisper about the assurance given by the officials to the land owners that they will not be forcibly dispossessed from their respective lands.”