Come out with suitable compensation policy for land owners: SC

Amidst growing land acquistion rows across the country, the Supreme Court on Tuesday suggested the government come out with a "reasonable compensation policy" to meet the geniune grievances of land owners.

Amidst growing land acquistion rows across the country, the Supreme Court on Tuesday suggested the government come out with a "reasonable compensation policy" to meet the geniune grievances of land owners.

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A vacation bench of justices GS Singhvi and CK Prasad felt if a proper monetary compensation policy was evolved by the government the frequent disputes over acquisition of lands by government would not arise.

"We think if the state formulates a reasonable compensation policy, then these type of disputes would not arise. We are frequently witnessing these type of problems. Why don't you come out with a proper compensation policy for the land owners"? the bench told Additional Solicitor General PP Malhotra.

The counsel agreed with the suggestion that a proper compensation policy ought to be set up to avert such disputes. He said the government was already in the process of coming out with a suitable mechanism to deal with the issue.

Bhatta-Parasul in Uttar Pradesh was in the news recently over alleged arbitary land acquistion by Mayawati government even as the Singur and Nandigram land acquisition disputes were considered to be a prime factor for the recent rout of the CPM-led Left Front government in West Bengal.

The apex court made the remarks while granting time to Delhi government to explore a compromise with certain land owners at Harsh Vihar whose 80 acres were acquired for the ostensible purpose of setting up a power grid by Delhi Transco for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.