On 28 April 2026, a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court comprising Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Kunal Ravi Singh dismissed a batch of petitions by farmers from villages near Noida International Airport at Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, challenging acquisition of their land for the airport’s expansion.
What was decided
The Court found that the acquisition complied with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 at every stage, from notification to award. Objections about rehabilitation and resettlement compliance, land assessment and displacement from residential (abadi) areas were rejected, and no breach of Article 300A of the Constitution was found.
The petitioners did not oppose acquisition of their agricultural land; their objection was to displacement from abadi. The Court held that this private interest must yield to the public interest in airport expansion, provided rehabilitation is ensured. It directed strict implementation of the rehabilitation and resettlement scheme in Phases II and III, and held that possession of abadi land may be taken only after rehabilitation measures, including allotment of developed plots, are complete.
Since awards had been passed and payments had begun, the Court left landowners to seek enhanced compensation through the statutory process.
Why it matters
The decision confirms that courts will not readily quash acquisitions for major infrastructure where the 2013 Act procedure has been followed. The remedy for most landowners therefore lies in the compensation and rehabilitation route, not in challenging the acquisition itself.
The condition on abadi possession is significant. Families in affected villages, and people who have bought abadi land there, can insist that developed plot allotment and other rehabilitation entitlements are delivered before they are asked to vacate.
Practical points
- Landowners dissatisfied with the award should use the reference procedure under the 2013 Act within the prescribed time.
- Keep records of the abadi structure, its occupation and family composition for rehabilitation claims.
- Investors should avoid purchases in notified acquisition villages without checking award and rehabilitation status.
- Confirm whether a parcel falls within Phase II or Phase III notifications before any transaction.
Sources: Bar & Bench, 29 Apr 2026; Law Trend, Apr 2026.
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General legal information only; not legal advice or solicitation.
