Bullet train project: Prez's nod to Guj land acquisition amendment questioned

A group of farmers, who had moved the Gujarat High Court against acquisition of their land for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet train project, today amended their plea, questioning the presidential assent for the state amendment to the central Land Acquisition Act.

Four of the five Surat farmers, who have challenged acquisition of their land for the project, amended their petitions today with the court's permission.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi slated the matter for next hearing on July 6 after granting permission to the farmers to amend their pleas.

In their amended petition, the farmers averred that the Gujarat Amendment Act, 2016 is completely at cross purposes with the Centre's Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

"The state amendment to the law is contrary to the very objects of the central law, and it "should never have been assented to by the President of India," the pleas said.

The pleas amended by the petitioners' counsel, Anand Yagnik said the state amendment "does not indicate that it was reserved for consideration by the President of India."