Orissa HC Issues Notice To Govt On Return Of Vedanta Varsity Land To Owners In Puri

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has issued notice to the state authorities on the issue of return of land acquired by the government for a university proposed to be set up in Puri by Vedanta Foundation, now known as Anil Agarwal Foundation.

The notice was issued on a petition filed by Navanirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS), a farmers’ organisation, seeking return of the acquired land to the owners.

The land acquisition process for the university was initiated by the government between December 13, 2006 and August 21, 2007. The High Court had in 2010 quashed the acquisition and directed Vedanta to return the land to their owners. Later, the Supreme Court upheld the HC order on April 12, 2023.

During heaving in the Supreme Court, Anil Agarwal Foundation had submitted that it was ready to confine the acquisition to 3,837 acre only instead of 15,000 acre as initially proposed. However, the apex court held that agricultural land belonging to 6,000 families was proposed to be acquired. As the land was their only source of livelihood, it could not be compensated in terms of money, and therefore, the proposal has to be rejected.

During a preliminary hearing on NKS’ petition on August 28 in the HC, senior advocate Sidhartha Ray submitted that the acquired land as directed by the Court is yet to be returned to the owners. He also sought interim compensation for the people whose the land was acquired.

On the other hand, additional government advocate Lalatendu Samantaray stated that as things stand today, it is for the Vedanta Foundation (now Anil Agarwal Foundation) to return the land that it had taken possession after paying compensation to the owners. The land owners in response have to refund the compensation amount received by them.

The division bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho issued notice on the question of admission to the Chief Secretary, Director of state Vigilance, Puri district Collector and land acquisition officer, and Anil Agarwal Foundation.