HC sets aside land allotment to DLF in Gurgaon

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday set aside Haryana government’s decision of transferring 350-acre acquired land in Wazirabad village, Gurgaon, to Delhi Land and Finance (DLF) developers in 2010.

Upholding the state government’s land acquisition decision, a division bench headed by Justice Surya Kant directed the state government to carryout fresh bidding process inviting international bids from new competitive bidders.

The court has also made it clear that DLF could participate in the bidding process that would be finalized with new terms and conditions by an independent consultant to be appointed within a month.

The consultant would submit his reports within two months and fresh bidding process would be completed in six months time.

DLF had planned to come up with a recreation and leisure project comprising commercial, residential, sports and golf course facilities.

The high court had in November 2012 restrained DLF from carrying out any construction activity and also from creating any third party rights on the land.

The judgment followed several petitions filed by Wazirabad villagers who had challenged the state government’s decision of acquiring forest land in 2003 and transferring it to private developers.

The Haryana government had acquired 278 acres of forest land, purportedly for public use, but later handed it to DLF for commercial development.

Earlier the state government had also acquired 76 acres of land for Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), which too was transferred to the DLF for the project.