NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre, Reliance Industries and the States of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on setting up of special economic zones by acquiring agricultural lands.

A Bench of Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice D.K. Jain after hearing senior counsel, Rohinton Nariman issued notice on the petition filed by Congress Member of Parliament, Kuldeep Bishnoi for a direction to declare as unconstitutional the law enacted by the Centre and the legislation passed by Haryana Government to facilitate setting up of SEZs.

The Government of India has put in place the SEZ policy, which seeks to make India a hub for global exports. It is a 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 the international markets.

Assailing this policy, the petitioner said that pursuant to the policy, several leading industrialists including Reliance had started acquiring thousands of acres of agricultural lands, particularly in Haryana to set up their units. The petitioner contended that lands of farmers, labourers and other citizens in the villages were being forcibly acquired. He cited the example of acquisition of 25000 acres of land by the Haryana government to favour Reliance group. He said besides Reliance 60 other SEZs were coming up in the State. He contended that the Central and the State laws were illegal and contrary to the development plans already put in place.

The petitioner submitted that Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, enacted by Parliament and the Haryana Special Economic Zone Act has not only being mutually conflicting but also violative of the National Capital Regional Board Act 1985 which envisaged uniform and planned development of the regions. The petitioner contended that the SEZs were aimed at creating land grabbing opportunities.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail