SC Gives Shock To Jagan On Amaravati Lands

In a major setback to the Andhra Pradesh state government over its plans to distribute lands to the poor in Amaravati, the Supreme Court has upheld the orders passed by AP High Court.

The Apex court opined that the trial in the High Court was conducted in a fair manner and followed due procedure, the Supreme Court directed the High Court to complete the trial at the earliest.

The YS Jagan-led state government has made changes to the master plan in Amaravati. The state government announced the formation of R5 zone in the capital region of Amaravati. AP government had issued a GO to distribute house sites to the people of Tadepalli, Pedakakani, Mangalagiri and Duggirala mandals and earmarked 1,300 acre the capital region land for that purpose. It created the R5 zone for this purpose.

This hasn’t gone down well with the farmers of Amaravati who have moved the High Court. In a writ petition filed by the farmers, they cited the Section-41 of APCRDA act and demanded that the opinions of the village committees and local bodies must be considered to effect any change in the master plan.

The High Court agreed with the farmers and suspended the R5 gazette notification issued by AP state government. However, the AP government has moved the Supreme Court.

In the wake of repealing the CRDA act and approval of the state governor, the AP government expected the Supreme Court to quash the High Court’s orders. However, the Supreme Court upheld the AP High Court’s suspension of the R5 gazette notification. This is a big setback to Jagan government from the Supreme Court over its plans to distribute lands to the poor.