The way the court has cancelled the land allotted to big builders and construction companies at Noida Extension by New Okhla Industrial development Authority, glaringly reflects the collusion among politicians, officials and builders in cheating farmers and people dreaming of getting their own homes at Noida.

The Supreme Court has slammed governments for misusing provisions of Land Acqusition Act to divest farmers of their prime agricultural land and giving it to builders. Questioning the building of hotels, malls and commercial complexes on land acquired for “public purpose”, a Bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly refused to stay the Allahabad High Court order quashing the notifications for land acquisition in the area adjoining the national capital. The Bench observed that a sinister campaign has been launched by various state governments to take advantage of the law against the poor people for taking away the land and giving it to builders where multiplexes, malls, posh residential complexes are developed which are beyond the reach of common men. The Bench questioned the change in land use by Uttar Pradesh government in Greater Noida and said that was not the plan for which the land was acquired.

For a few power, pelf and strong relations with the higher ups make then so arrogant that they even fail to realize that for their sinful deeds they can one day lose their chair or can face grave implications.  It’s now well understood how during the last few years the present dispensation under Mayawati and previous governments in UP acquired land from gullible farmers at  throw away prices and the same were sold to construction companies and builders on a hefty premium. The shoddy affair smacks of blatant corruption. What is more saddening is the fact that what builders paid to the Govt is far less than what went into the pockets of shrewd politicians and officials. It would be a herculean task for NOIDA authority to return the money to the builders and millions of investors. The decision by the Supreme Court and High Court to cancel the acquired land and the return of the same to the farmers clearly shows the independence and impartiality of the India judicial system. However, this alone won’t be enough as the court would have to take a step further by giving a nod to the impartial probe into the whole gamut of land acquisition and allotment of the same to builders. Any one found to be guilty should be punished and their assets both in India and abroad confiscated so that next time nobody perpetrates the same crime again.

Embroiled with scams and corruptions of gigantic proportions, today the country finds ray of hope only in the judiciary. The judiciary should also act to hold this belief high it order to save the country and its people or else the greed to politicians and officials will push India fast into a chaotic situation.

Though since 1991 globalization and liberalization have propelled the economic growth of the country, however, corruption as an offshoot has spread across all segments alarmingly. The riches are getting richer day by day and have left no stone unturned in grabbing power and money to satisfy their urge with due support from the political clan. The poor on the other hand are getting poorer finding themselves unable to get even the basic amenities.

Wide economic disparity has also increased violence, crime and terrorist activities. With the increasing cost of agricultural inputs, farming today is seen as a costly venture, but farmers still are unwilling to leave their land as it is the bread and butter for them. Moreover, they have realized how the govt is making hefty profit by acquiring their land for a petty sum and reselling them to builders gaining huge profit. Farmers whose lands have been acquired are not rejoicing the judgment regarding cancellation but they are rejoicing over the fact that they would now get the exact cost of their lands at market prices.

The Centre has proposed to bring a new land acquisition Act in the monsoon session of the parliament. However, getting the Act passed is not the only solution. The way the builders have exploited the gullible investors by showing them castles in the air deserves to be controlled. The booking of flats should be started by builders only when the registration formalities have been completed. The cancellation of land acquisition in NOIDA have deeply affected the middle class dream to have own homes. They now find themselves cheated. A determined action needs to be taken so that these things are not repeated in future. A stronger law in this regard will definitely prevent such crime to reoccur.

Rajesh Gupta

Your comments are welcome at

rgupta@nnsonline.com