High Court rejects KIADB plea to stay order on land acquisition

High Court rejects KIADB plea to stay order on land acquisition

The Hindu

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Monday refused to vacate its interim order of March 26 directing the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) not to acquire agricultural lands in and around Bangalore city and in Bangalore Urban and Rural districts.

It, however, permitted the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) to go ahead with its metro rail project and also allowed it seek the assistance of the KIADB to complete acquisition of land for the metro rail project in Bangalore.

This is the second time in a week that the court has refused to vacate its order directing the KIADB not to go ahead with the acquisition and allotment of land. On April 5, the court had refused to stay its order.

The court order followed an interlocutory application (IA) by the KIADB seeking to vacate the stay order.

Senior counsel and former Advocate-General Vijay Shankar said all acquisition was according to the law and that no excess land had been acquired.

Observing that farmlands could not be indiscriminately acquired and that even farmers had a right to livelihood, Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh who is hearing the petition, said it is unfortunate that the plight of the farmers has been ignored.

He said though agriculture is an industry, not much attention has been bestowed on the sector.