SC rejects plea against Gujarat govt’s land allocation to Adani

New Delhi, 30 October 2012

In a big relief for Adani group and Gujarat government, the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a petition challenging the allocation of 1,000 acres of pastoral land in Mundra for development of a special economic zone by Adani Port.

The apex court refused to interfere with the June 22, 2011 decision of the Gujarat High Court which had declined the plea of Zarapara village residents and some members of its ‘gram panchayat’ against allocation of land for the SEZ.

“We find that no ground is made out to interfere in this matter. The Special Leave Petitions are accordingly dismissed,” said a bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra.

The Gujarat government had allotted 1,000 acres of pastoral land at Zarapara to Adani Port and SEZ in 2007.

The villagers had contended that land allotment was illegal and arbitrary and had disturbed the ratio of cattle to pastoral land in the village as prescribed by the state government.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone contested these allegations saying the Gujarat Panchayat Act, 1993 empowers the state government to resume the land from a village panchayat and allot it for purpose of setting up a SEZ, which caters to the public at large.