Farmers are free to challenge state on SEZs

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New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted liberty to 56 farmers from Gujarat to challenge the award made by the state government while acquiring their land for setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) by the Reliance group headed by Mr Mukesh Ambani.

The petitioner, Shah Kantilal Depar and others had come in appeal to the Supreme Court against the acquisition of 10,000 acres of land belonging to the farmers, to be allotted to Reliance Infrastucture limited and others.

The Gujarat High Court had dismissed the writ petition challenging the acquisition of land by the state government, valued at several 100 crores.

A bench comprising Justices K G Balakrishnan and D K Jain said, the obsevation of the High Court on the issue of award shall not be binding on the petitioner and they will have the liberty to challenge the award if not satisfied.

The apex court, however, refused to say anything on other issues raised by the petitioner, while disposing off the appeal.

The State of Gujarat and Reliance were represented by some of the leading lawyers including former law minister Arun Jaitley, former Attorney General Ashok Desai, Mr Harish Salve and Mr Mukul Rohatagi.

It is to be noted here that the land belonging to about 10,000 farmers had been acquired by the state of Gujarat for setting up SEZs.