Kalamassery Judicial City: HMT rejects Kerala Govt’s 2014 land compensation proposal in SC

New Delhi: HMT on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it cannot hand over land to the Kerala Government for the Kalamassery Judicial City project. Kerala had proposed acquiring the land based on the 2014 basic valuation report, offering compensation accordingly. However, HMT has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court clarifying that this cannot be accepted. The affidavit also highlighted that the compensation amount is notably lower compared to current market value.

The state government had approached the Supreme Court seeking to acquire 27 acres of HMT land for the Judicial City project, which includes the new High Court complex. This is in continuation of Kerala’s 2016 appeal against the 2014 High Court order that HMT land could not be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act. A notice was issued during the case, but the Supreme Court maintained the status quo on the land. The state has now approached the Supreme Court seeking a revision of the 2016 order.

Previously, HMT had transferred land for the Seaport–Airport road and for building the Kinfra Guest House. However, HMT now informed the Supreme Court that it cannot hand over approximately 27 acres of land for the Judicial City at such a low compensation. The affidavit also points out that the land the government is attempting to acquire now is exempted from the Land Acquisition Act.