The Allahabad High Court has cleared the path for the expansion of the Noida International Airport in Gautam Buddh Nagar by upholding the land acquisition process initiated by the state authorities. In a significant judgment, the court dismissed a batch of writ petitions filed by local landowners and farmers, ruling that the acquisition proceedings were conducted in strict accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The dispute arose following two key notifications issued by the government on April 11, 2025, and October 24, 2025, aimed at acquiring additional land for the prestigious airport project. A group of affected villagers and farmers, including Vijay Pal Singh, approached the High Court challenging these notifications. While the petitioners did not fundamentally oppose the acquisition of agricultural land, their primary grievances centered on the procedural regularities and the critical issues of displacement and rehabilitation.
A division bench comprising Justice M C Tripathi and Justice Kunal Ravi Singh meticulously examined the acquisition process. The court found that the statutory framework had been followed at every stage—from the initial issuance of notifications to the final award of compensation.
Dismissing the challenge, the bench observed:
“In view of the foregoing discussion and for the reasons stated herein above, this Court finds no merit in the challenge raised by the petitioners to the impugned notifications dated April 11, 2025 and October 24, 2025.”
The court further emphasized that there was no “material irregularity” in the proceedings, noting that the authorities had acted in conformity with both the 2013 Act and the 2016 Rules framed thereunder.
Significantly, the court noted that the petitioners’ concerns were largely focused on the impact of displacement rather than the acquisition itself. While the court declined to interfere with the acquisition, it passed a crucial directive to protect the interests of the residents.
The bench ordered that the authorities must ensure that all rehabilitation and resettlement measures are fully implemented before taking actual possession of residential lands. This directive ensures that while infrastructure development proceeds, the fundamental rights of the displaced individuals to proper resettlement are not overlooked.
The judgment, delivered on April 28, reinforces the state’s power to acquire land for public infrastructure projects provided the legal safeguards for compensation and rehabilitation are strictly met. By upholding the notifications, the court has removed a major legal hurdle for the expansion of one of India’s largest upcoming aviation hubs.
