Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 19
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the acquisition of more than 200 acres for development of Sector 63-A in Gurgaon.

The orders came during the resumed hearing of a petition filed by Pawan Bhatia, owner of 13 acres. He told the court that a notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act was issued by the state on December 31, 2013.

The government deliberately decided to acquire his land also as he had earlier moved the High Court against the non-grant of change-of-land use to construct a colony.

A Division Bench had earlier directed that license, change of land use or letter of intent would not be granted during the pendency of proceedings challenging the grant of licences for group housing in Sector 63-A in Gurgaon.

During the course of hearing, TC Gupta, Principal Secretary, Department of Town and Country Planning, Haryana, had appeared before the court on December 21 last year and given an undertaking that the petitioner’s land would be kept free from licensing for group housing in Sector 63-A, Gurgaon.

Taking note of the same, the High Court had decided to modify its orders so that it did not adversely affect the land of other private builders. However, on December 31 last year, the state issued a notification under Section 4 to acquire over 200 acres of land, including the petitioner’s land.