In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed the Uttarakhand government's appeal against a high court order, affirming the employment rights of over 600 villagers who lost their land for the construction of the Naini-Saini airport in 1992, TOI reported.
The verdict, delivered on April 8, 2023, clears the way for these villagers to secure government jobs, a promise made nearly two decades ago.
The construction of the Naini-Saini airport began in March 1992 for administrative purposes, necessitating the acquisition of land from six villages, which impacted around 600 residents. Following protests and negotiations, local authorities assured the villagers in 2006 that they would be given government jobs in exchange for their land. Despite this commitment, only six individuals received contractual positions, leaving the majority without employment.
In response to the state's failure to honour its promise, the affected villagers formed the ‘ Naini Saini Gramin Vikas Samiti’ to advocate for their rights.
In 2014, they brought their case to the Uttarakhand High Court, which, in a 2018 ruling, directed the state government to provide jobs within ten weeks. Instead of complying, the Uttarakhand government challenged this order in the Supreme Court.
The apex court's ruling noted the state's obligation to uphold its commitments to the villagers. "We are not inclined to entertain this petition. The special leave petition is, accordingly, dismissed,” the court said in its order.
Kundan Singh Mahar, president of the Naini Saini Samiti, expressed relief at the verdict, noting that the government had acquired 27.5 hectares of land from the villagers. “Except for six people who got contractual jobs in various departments, no other villager was given employment,” he said.
The 2018 ruling from the high court criticized the state's inaction, and said, “Despite that categorical assurance held out to the villagers, they have not been offered any public employment. The state has devised a very unique method to deprive the poorest of poor villagers of their land by holding out the promise and thereafter, wriggling out of duty. The gullible villagers have been taken for a ride. The state must show sensitivity in these matters."
The court also referenced Article 300A of the Constitution, which protects citizens from unlawful deprivation of property.
“The property of a citizen cannot be taken away, save in accordance with law as per Article 300A. The assurance held out was a part of the valid consideration. The same cannot be denied by the state govt. Accordingly, the state is directed to take a final decision on the basis of promise… within 10 weeks from today and consider offering appointments to the villagers positively whose land was acquired for the construction of Naini Saini runway,” it said.
(With inputs from TOI)
The verdict, delivered on April 8, 2023, clears the way for these villagers to secure government jobs, a promise made nearly two decades ago.
The construction of the Naini-Saini airport began in March 1992 for administrative purposes, necessitating the acquisition of land from six villages, which impacted around 600 residents. Following protests and negotiations, local authorities assured the villagers in 2006 that they would be given government jobs in exchange for their land. Despite this commitment, only six individuals received contractual positions, leaving the majority without employment.
In response to the state's failure to honour its promise, the affected villagers formed the ‘ Naini Saini Gramin Vikas Samiti’ to advocate for their rights.
In 2014, they brought their case to the Uttarakhand High Court, which, in a 2018 ruling, directed the state government to provide jobs within ten weeks. Instead of complying, the Uttarakhand government challenged this order in the Supreme Court.
The apex court's ruling noted the state's obligation to uphold its commitments to the villagers. "We are not inclined to entertain this petition. The special leave petition is, accordingly, dismissed,” the court said in its order.
Kundan Singh Mahar, president of the Naini Saini Samiti, expressed relief at the verdict, noting that the government had acquired 27.5 hectares of land from the villagers. “Except for six people who got contractual jobs in various departments, no other villager was given employment,” he said.
The 2018 ruling from the high court criticized the state's inaction, and said, “Despite that categorical assurance held out to the villagers, they have not been offered any public employment. The state has devised a very unique method to deprive the poorest of poor villagers of their land by holding out the promise and thereafter, wriggling out of duty. The gullible villagers have been taken for a ride. The state must show sensitivity in these matters."
The court also referenced Article 300A of the Constitution, which protects citizens from unlawful deprivation of property.
“The property of a citizen cannot be taken away, save in accordance with law as per Article 300A. The assurance held out was a part of the valid consideration. The same cannot be denied by the state govt. Accordingly, the state is directed to take a final decision on the basis of promise… within 10 weeks from today and consider offering appointments to the villagers positively whose land was acquired for the construction of Naini Saini runway,” it said.
(With inputs from TOI)
You may also like
Chinese OEMs Under India's🔎, Downround At CRED & More
Eight foods that could lower your risk of cancer and diabetes
Fire breaks out at Lokbandhu Hospital in Lucknow; one dead
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit Gujarat today
This Bollywood actor admits he was the 1st in his family to marry out of caste
