SC sets aside Gujarat govt order on land deal.

The Supreme Court set aside the order of the Gujarat government and the collector of Kutch allowing the sale of 36 acres in Bhuj to Alumina Refinery. The court called the sale 'bad in law and arbitrary'. The court said that the company should pay Rs. 3.15 crore to the government if it wants to proceed with the project. The land would now vest in the government.

The high court had dismissed a public interest petition by a congress leader challenging the sale, allegedly at the behest of Anandi Ben Patel, Revenue minister. The parcel of land had originally been allotted by the state government to Indigold refinery. But it could not set up its project within the three-year deadline. The minister thereafter allowed the sale of the land to Alumina Refinery in 2009, though the Chief Secretary opposed the deal. There was no public auction and it was a company to company sale approved by the government. This was challenged as arbitrary.

BS