The Supreme Court today adjourned the hearing on a petition filed by the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict quashing Uttar Pradesh Government's notification to acquire land for the company’s 8,000 MW Dadri power project.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan adjourned the hearing till March 15.
Earlier, on January 18 the apex court had adjourned the hearing on the plea of advocate M L Sharma, appearing for some of the farmers who have filed the caveat, that they be given opportunity to be heard.
Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Reliance Power Ltd, had submitted that he has no objection for the caveators to be heard.
However, during the hearing, the Anil Ambani-led company had alleged that the petition against the land acquisition for the project was motivated and a result of corporate rivalry, which was seen in the gas dispute recently in the apex court.
He had said the allotment of the land for the project was challenged four years after it was cleared by the Uttar Pradesh Government.
Rohatgi had said in most of the cases, farmers have withdrawn the amount of compensation for the land.
The High Court had said state government had side-stepped a provision inviting objections from land owners while coming out with the notification for using emergency powers to acquire land for the company.
In its appeal, RPL had contended that the High Court should not have entertained the petitions of the farmers on grounds of delay in filing them.
It said the company had complied with the provisions of the Land Acquisition law and the project was in public interest.
About 2,500 acres of land were acquired by the state government from the farmers for the project.
The High Court judgement had come on several petitions filed by farmers challenging acquisition of the land in 2004, when the Samajwadi Party was in power in the state.
The farmers were supported by former prime minister V P Singh and Sahyog Samiti, a group of farmers to protest against the project.
The petitioners questioned the method of land acquisition, saying it was taken for a "public purpose" under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act by the Mulayam Singh government. Under these circumstances, what was the need for entering into contract with the private parties, they asked.
The High Court in its verdict had said "all subsequent proceedings consequent to the notification of February 11, 2004 are quashed".
The court had also directed the state government to resolve anomalies in land acquisition and seek fresh negotiations with farmers who were objecting to the land acquisition.