Date:12/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/12/stories/2008071251580300.htm

Karnataka

HC directive sought on revoking land allotment

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: Residents of the villages of Sancoale, Verna in south Goa and Kerim in north Goa approached the Bombay High Court at Goa early this week seeking a directive from the court to the State-owned Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) to revoke the land allotted by it to the promoters of the special economic zones (SEZs) in their respective areas.

The petitioners have termed the land allotment on a 95-year lease as “fraudulent”. The petitions pertain to three notified SEZs — Meditab Specialities Private Ltd., K. Raheja Corporation and Peninsula Pharma Research Private Ltd. The court, without issuing notices to respondents, has posted the matter for hearing on July 18 when the two petitions filed by K. Raheja Corporation and Meditab Specialities challenging the GIDC decision revoking the land allotment to SEZ promoters would be heard.

The court observed on Wednesday that if the GIDC withdraws land allotted to SEZs, then the three public interest litigation petitions would become redundant.