HC seeks info on compensation for Saifai bypass land

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday asked the state counsel to seek information with regard to a writ petition alleging non-payment of compensation for land acquired for constructing Saifai bypass.
It is alleged in the petition that the land was acquired from its owners two years back, but no compensation has been paid so far.
Hearing the writ petition filed by Kaushal Kishore and several others of Saifai, a division bench comprising Justice Rakesh Tiwari and Justice Mukhtar Ahmed directed the state government to explain as to why compensation has not been paid to the land owners though the land was acquired two years back.
The court has directed to list this case on August 18 for the next hearing.
In the writ petition, it was alleged that notification for acquisition of land was issued by the state government on July 27, 2013 by which hundreds of acres of land was acquired for the construction of Saifai bypass. Now its construction is in progress but according to petitioners, no compensation has been paid so far to the petitioners, nor any award has been made.
It has been further alleged that instead of making any award, the land acquisition officer is insisting that the petitioners and other land owners execute sale deed on a very low rate.