Centre now a party in bullet train petition in Gujarat High Court

The Ministry of Rural Development of the central government, on Friday, became party in the petition in the Gujarat High Court pertaining to objections by farmers in the state against the bullet train, especially regarding the manner in which land is being acquired. The state government has been delaying the hearing, claimed the advocate representing the farmers. Now both the state and central governments will reply to the objections posed by the farmers.

Gujarat Khedut Samaj, representing the farmers whose land is being acquired for the bullet train project by High Speed Railway Corporation Limited (HSRCL), had objected to the process of acquisition of land by the state government as the project involves both the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. As per the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, it is the central government that should undertake the procedure to acquire land. When the counsel for the central government said that the Centre would like to be the party in the case, Anand Yagnik, the advocate for farmers, agreed to it.

Now both the central and state governments and HSRCL will reply to the objections raised by the farmers. These include revision of rates of land as Jantri has not been revised and hence the preliminary notification issued Land Acquisition Act needs to be quashed and set aside.

Farmers have also challenged the amended Land Acquisition Act by the state government which gives unbridled and unfettered powers to the executive to exempt any project in the name of public interest from conducting a Social Impact Assessment, Consent Clause and safeguarding of food security. "The Gujarat amendment is therefore challenged on the ground of excessive delegation and also that it is completely at cross purposes with the Principal Act of 2013 and hence against the constitution and violates fundamental rights of farmers," said Yagnik.

He also said that the Gujarat government has been seeking time for the last three consecutive weeks on one or the other pretext and the matter is being adjourned without any effective hearing. "The Court acknowledged adjournments being sought by the state of Gujarat and directed without any order that on July 10, all the matters on the bullet train project filed by the respective farmers on different issues will be heard on merits," he added.