New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday will hear a special leave petition filed by hundreds of farmers from Gujarat against the Gujarat High Court order rejecting their plea against the acquisition of 10,000 acres of land by Reliance Infrastructure Ltd for its project in the Jamnagar Special Economic Zone.

A Bench of Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice D.K. Jain will also hear another public interest petition filed by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma challenging the setting up of SEZs by acquiring lands from farmers at cheap rates.

The Government of India has put in place the SEZ policy, which seeks to make India a hub of global export. It is part of the Government's economic liberalisation programme and entrepreneurs have been offered liberal tax incentives to set up world-class units in these special zones to service international markets.

Plea dismissed

Last week, the Bench had dismissed a PIL observing that the policy decision of the Government could not be challenged through a PIL.

But the Bench indicated that such a petition could be considered only if the affected party approached the court.

In their SLP, Shah Kantilal Depar and others brought to the notice of the court that of the 10,000 acres of land acquired by State Government for the Reliance project, about 9,000 acres was farm land. They said that it would be utilised by the company for developing a SEZ, which would also house its parent firm Reliance Industries Ltd's proposed 27 million tonne mega refinery. They said the Centre had made it clear that only wasteland and non-farm land would be acquired for SEZs. But contrary to this policy, the Gujarat Government had acquired fertile land, thus violating the provisions.

They said no rehabilitation scheme had been put in place for the affected farmers.

In his petition, Mr. Sharma questioned the acquisition of agricultural and cultivable land from farmers for setting up special economic zones across the country.

"Quash all acquisitions"

Mr. Sharma sought the quashing of all acquisitions that had already taken place with a direction returning land to the farmers.

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