The Times Of India, Feb 8 2014, Allahabad: Allahabad high court on Friday directed the state authorities concerned to maintain status quo with regard to the land acquired in Morta village of Ghaziabad for the construction of Northern Peripheral Road.

Passing the above order, a division bench, comprising Justice Arun Tandon and Justice AK Mishra, directed the state government to file reply in this case and fixed March 3, 2014 as the next date of hearing. The court passed the above directives on a writ petition filed by Jagdish Prasad, a farmer of Morta village, and 29 others.

According to the writ petition, on December 31, 2013, the state government issued a notification for acquisition of the land at village Morta under Section 4(1) and Section 17(4) of the Land Acquisition Act for construction of Northern Peripheral Road.

In the writ petition, the petitioners, who are farmers of village Morta, challenged the December 31 notification stating that it was issued without hearing the farmers and without obtaining their consent. They alleged that the said action of the state government authorities had deprived the farmers of their source of livelihood, therefore, should be set aside. They further alleged that the state government ignored the farmers’ interest and acquired the land without following the rules.
 

Web: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/High-court-orders-status-quo-on-Morta-land-acquisition/articleshow/30043268.cms