AAP demanded investigation of alleged Corruption for Land acquisition for Vedanta University .

By Bijay Mishra
Bhubaneswar, 13 -04-2023

While the Supreme Court of India in its judgment upholding the Odisha High Court order in CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 1144-1146 OF 2011, declared the Land Acquisition of Anil Agrawalla Foundation  of Vedanta at Puri illegal and accused the State Government for showing favourism and violate  Article 14 of the Constitution of India,  Mr Nishikanta Mohapatra , AAP Odisha State Convener demanded investigation of alleged Corruption for Land acquisition for Vedanta University . 

The dispute was with respect to the acquisition of about 6,000 acres of land belonging to about 6,000 families, affecting approximately 30,000 people. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of Orissa and Vedanta Foundation on July 19, 2006. The Government of Orissa confirmed the availability of contiguous land of about 8,000 acres and said it would try to provide additional contiguous land and other facilities as required by the Foundation

The SC observed that “agricultural lands belonging to 6000 families and their only source of livelihood is on the agricultural lands, which cannot be compensated in terms of money, therefore, the proposal made now has to be rejected outright.”

The SC observed that “It is not appreciable why the Government offered such an undue favour in favour of one trust/ company. Thus, the entire acquisition proceedings and the benefits, which were proposed by the State Government were vitiated by favourism and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

The SC imposed costs, which is quantified at Rs. 5 lakhs to be deposited by the appellant – beneficiary company – Anil Agarwal Foundation with the Registrar of this Court within a period of six weeks and on such deposit, the same  will be transferred to the Orissa State Legal Services Authority.

The AAP Convener Advocate Mr Mohapatra also demanded review of all ongoing illegal land acquisition for various mines and industries of Odisha. 

"The SC order is the victory for Lord Jagannath whose land was being illegally acquired for the project," said Uma Ballav Rath, who has been spearheading the campaign against the proposed Vedanta project. “ 

In view of the above SC judgment , “ JANMAT “ demanded review of land acquisition process of some mega industrial & mines projects of the State  which affects habitation, agriculture land , forest and total eco system.