Chandigarh, April 04 A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) today, which had challenged the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Punjab government and Reliance Retail Limited, a sister concern of Reliance Industries Limited, for setting up a special economic zone (SEZ).
The petition was disposed of after the Punjab government stated that the rules have been amended by the it with respect to the sale of village common land.
Earlier, as per the government rules, the village common land could be sold for any project including the mega projects after seeking approval of the Government.
However, as per the amended rules, the village common land would not be sold for any project, but could only be leased out.
The Punjab government has not filed any reply regarding granting of land to Reliance for its agri projects.
The PIL was filed by former state finance minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh seeking quashing of MoU inked on August 1, 2006. The MoU was signed by Captain Kanwaljit Singh.
The petition had alleged that apart from allotting PSIEC land, allegedly at “throwaway” price, to the company for the mega project, the government had also granted a number of concessions to the Mukesh Ambani-owned company.
The petition stated that 292 acres belonging to Punjab State Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) in various focal points had been earmarked to be handed over to Reliance on freehold basis for a paltry Rs 37 crore, which is negligible as compared to the actual cost of the land.
The state government had also decided to allot 169 acres of land, given by the PSIEC to the Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation for certain projects, to Reliance for Rs 4.35 crore.
The PIL further read that as per the policy of the government, finalised on September 2, 2005, specific parameters had been prescribed for allotment under the “off-the-shelf” category, whereas open invitation is to be given for allotments under the general category.
Express news service
Posted online: Saturday , April 05, 2008 at 12:19:53Updated: Saturday , April 05, 2008 at 12:19:53
About Me
- Kamal Kumar Pandey (Adv. Supreme Court of India)
- Lawyer Practising at Supreme Court of India. Court Experience: Criminal, Civil & PIL (related to Property, Tax, Custom & Duties, MVAC, insurance, I.P.R., Copyrights & Trademarks, Partnerships, Labour Disputes, etc.) Socio-Legal: Child Rights, Mid Day Meal Programme, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, Women Rights, Against Female Foeticide, P.R.Is, Bonded Labour, Child labour, Child marriage, Domestic violence, Legal Literacy, HIV/AIDS, etc. Worked for Legal Aid/Advise/Awareness/Training/Empowerment/Interventions/Training & Sensitisation.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comment