Rajasthan High Court Intervenes in Railway Land Acquisition Case
The Rajasthan High Court has issued an interim order to stay the passing of a land acquisition award related to the Reengus–Khatu Shyamji new broad gauge railway line project. This decision comes in response to serious allegations that officials manipulated the railway alignment and changed land details between the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and subsequent official notifications.
Court Proceedings and Petitioners' Claims
A single bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand passed the interim order on February 11 while hearing petitions filed by Gulabdan Baret and 31 other individuals. The petitioners have raised significant concerns, alleging that the land identified in the original DPR for the railway line does not match the land mentioned in later acquisition notifications. Specifically, they claim that khasra numbers, which are used to identify land parcels, were altered without proper justification.
Key Allegations Include:
- Discrepancies between the original DPR and official notifications regarding land details.
- Alterations in the railway alignment that could impact property rights and project integrity.
- Potential irregularities in the land acquisition process, prompting calls for an inquiry.
Court Directives and Future Proceedings
Taking note of these serious allegations, the high court has directed the authorities to produce the original technical details of the DPR. Additionally, they must submit the complete record of objections related to the land acquisition before the court. The petitioners have sought the quashing of the acquisition notifications and demanded the initiation of an inquiry against the concerned officials for alleged irregularities.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on March 5, after the submission of the required records. This case highlights ongoing issues in land acquisition processes for infrastructure projects in India, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
This development underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding property rights and ensuring procedural fairness in large-scale projects.
