Shock to Adani from Rajasthan High Court: cancellation of allotment of 1500 bighas for solar plant in Pokaran, instructions for government review of 4500 bighas

The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday gave its verdict in the matter of land allotted for the solar plant of Adani Renewable Energy. In this, the allotment of 1500 bighas of land out of 6115.6 bighas in Naidan village of Pokaran tehsil was canceled. Also, the government has been directed to review 4500 bighas. A division bench of Justice Sangeet Lodha and Justice Rameshwar Lodha gave these orders on a petition filed by appellant Barkat Khan and 23 others.

Utility land allotment canceled
Advocate Moti Singh Rajpurohit, appearing for the appellants, told that 1500 bighas were the land of public utility. Its allotment has been cancelled. The government has been told that no one should restore any kind of allotment without making arrangements for the way to the dhanis and land of those who are living there.

Further instructions were given that a detailed survey of the entire area should be done. The arrangements of the people there will be seen. After that, if there is any land there, then it should be allotted after reviewing the details. There should be a detailed survey for the paths of the Dhanis from the allotted government land.

Order was secured since January
On 8 September 2020, Public Prosecutor AAG (Additional Advocate General) Rekha Borana, after arguing for some time, had sought two weeks’ time from the government to complete its instructions. On this, the bench had issued orders to maintain status quo on the disputed land after the undertaking was given by AAG Borana. Also, the next date of hearing was fixed on 29 September 2020. The hearings were held several times between October and January. The order in this case was reserved since January.

Hence the appeal filed
Rajpurohit said- Jaisalmer Collector had given 6115.6 bighas of land to Adani Renewable Energy on January 11, 2018 for setting up solar power power plant. This land belongs to Nedan village of Pokaran tehsil. The appellants challenged the order of the DM in the single bench of the High Court.

The single bench of the High Court dismissed the appeal on 27 November 2019. Against this order the appellant went to the Division Bench of the High Court. After this the decision has come in favor. In the hearing, Kuldeep Mathur, Dhirendra Singh Soda, Shreyans Mardia and Vipul Dharaniya argued on behalf of the other applicants.