Should farmers starve? Sharp exchange in Supreme Court between lawyers over land acquisition for Ayodhya development

The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its judgment on a plea challenging the acquisition of around 450 acres of land for a development scheme in Ayodhya.

During the hearing, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Johanna observed that social impact assessment should not be brushed aside lightly, but cautioned against making it a “millstone around the neck” of the State.

The hearing was also privy to sharp exchange of words between lawyers with those opposing the land acquisition flagging the impact it could have on farmers in the area.

The Court was hearing Shri Saryu Nagar Vikas Samiti’s challenge to an Allahabad High Court judgment concerning the acquisition of land under the Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad Adhiniyam, 1965.

The High Court’s August 6 ruling declined to quash the acquisition but directed that landowners receive compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement benefits on the same parameters as the 2013 land acquisition law. It held that undoing the proceedings would jeopardise the public purpose, with some land already allotted to third parties.

Before the Supreme Court, the Samiti argued that the 2013 law’s protections extend beyond compensation to safeguards governing acquisition itself, including social impact assessment and restrictions on acquiring irrigated multi-crop land.

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan submitted that two earlier schemes covered approximately 1,400 acres, of which only 70 acres had been utilised. He questioned the need to acquire another 450 acres without examining the availability of previously acquired land.

Defending the acquisition, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said the third phase formed part of Ayodhya’s comprehensive development, including housing, roads, schools, hospitals, hotels, mutts and ashrams. Possession has been taken in three of four villages, she said.

The submissions prompted a sharp exchange over construction of hotels in the city.

“How can a place like Ayodhya have no hotels?” Bhati asked.

“Do not take multi-crop land for it,” Sankaranarayanan responded.

When Bhati referred to global attention on Ayodhya’s development and pilgrimage, he asked,

“And so let the farmers starve?”

“Nobody is starving anyone,” Bhati replied, maintaining that statutory compensation and other benefits were being provided.

[Read Live Coverage]