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Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Chennai Airport project: land acquisition notices stayed

The operation of individual acquisition notices issued to owners of lands, identified for the Chennai Airport Expansion Project, was stayed by the Madras High Court on Wednesday.
Admitting the petition filed by 15 residents of Marvel Riverview County Phase II in Manapakkam, Justice P. Jyothimani issued notices to State Transport Secretary, Kancheepuram District Collector and Sriperumbudur tahsildar.

When the matter came up for admission on Wednesday, the Additional Government Pleader sought two weeks’ time to file counter. Granting time, the Judge said, “In the meantime there shall be an interim injunction.” The matter was adjourned to December 19 for further proceedings.The petition challenged the legislative competence of the State Government to initiate the acquisition proceedings when parliamentary legislations – the Aircraft Act and Airports Authority of India Act 1994 – had the exclusive jurisdiction for acquiring lands.

K.M. Vijayan, senior counsel for the petitioners, submitted that the Union Government was the appropriate authority to decide the place of airport and land acquisition for airport.
The petitioners, further, contended that the notices were issued under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, and added that the Act was not applicable for the purpose of airport expansion.

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