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HC clears Jewar airport land acquisition, mandates rehab before possession
The Allahabad High Court upheld the land acquisition for the Noida International Airport expansion (Phase II and III) and ordered rehabilitation and resettlement before taking possession of abadi land. It rejected constitutional challenges under Article 300A, noting that compensation has been awarded and that rehab must be completed prior to possession.
Why It Matters
The ruling demonstrates how courts balance public infrastructure needs with residents' rights, and sets a precedent that rehab must precede possession in large-scale acquisitions.
Timeline
2 Events
Article reporting the High Court order published
April 30, 2026
The article detailing the Allahabad High Court's order upholding the land acquisition and mandating rehabilitation before possession was published on April 30, 2026.
Allahabad High Court upholds land acquisition for Jewar airport; rehab before possession ordered
April 28, 2026
In its April 28, 2026 order, a division bench of Justices Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Kunal Ravi Singh disposed of petitions filed by Vijay Pal Singh and 12 other farmers challenging Phase II and III acquisitions for the Noida International Airport at Jewar. The court held the acquisition compliant with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, including social impact assessment, public hearings, consent provisions, compensation, and rehabilitation. It rejected the constitutional challenge under Article 300A, noting that compensation awards had already been passed and disbursement initiated. The petitioners did not oppose the acquisition of agricultural land, and the court said that concerns over displacement of abadi are private interests that must yield to public interest under the Act. The court directed strict implementation of the rehabilitation and resettlement scheme during Phase II and III, and ordered that possession of abadi land will be taken only after rehabilitation measures, including allotment of developed plots, are completed.