Wayanad township: Elston Estate moves Supreme Court seeking to halt acquisition proceedings

New Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking to halt the acquisition of Elston Estate for constructing a township as part of the rehabilitation project for the survivors of the Mundakkai–Chooralmala disaster in Wayanad. The plea has been submitted by the owners of Elston Estate.

The petition calls for a stay on the Kerala High Court order that permitted the land acquisition. The estate owners have argued that until they are paid the full compensation as mandated under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, the acquisition should not proceed.

The state government has initiated steps to acquire 78.73 hectares of land from Elston Estate for the proposed township. This move was based on an interim order issued by the High Court. However, the estate owners contend that the compensation amount fixed by the government for the land is grossly inadequate, below the fair market value of the land.

The government had decided to pay a total of Rs 26.56 crore as compensation for the land, including buildings, trees, tea bushes and other agricultural crops on the estate. But the estate owners argue that, according to Section 26 of the 2013 land acquisition law, this amount falls remarkably short of what is legally required. 

The Supreme Court is expected to consider the petition filed by the estate owners next week. Meanwhile, the Kerala government has submitted a caveat in the apex court, requesting that its side be heard before any interim order is issued in the case.