Liquor baron Ponty Chadha’s realty project in Noida hit a legal hurdle on Monday when the Supreme Court, acting on a petition challenging the allotment of land to his firm Wave Infratech, issued notice to the UP government.
The petition, filed by 94 farmers, accused it of misusing its powers by acquiring land from them in 1976 and letting it lie idle for 34 years before allotting it to Wave Infratech in 2011.
The proposed project, spread over 152 acres, will be a mix of high-rise premium residential buildings, commercial towers, shopping arcades and hotels.
The petitioners had earlier moved the Allahabad high court, which on October 21, 2011, dismissed their plea.
Acting on their appeal against the high court verdict, justice RM Lodha and justice AR Dave sought a response from the Noida authorities.
The petitioners’ lawyer, Jasbir Singh Malik, said: “The petitioners have made a detailed representation to all concerned for releasing the land.”