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The Supreme Court has ordered the SIT investigating Noida land compensation irregularities to include former CEOs and senior officials in its probe. The investigation will examine alleged collusion between officials and beneficiaries over the past 10-15 years, focusing on misuse of power and transparency issues. Farmers who received higher compensation will not be penalised. The SIT has been given two more months to complete its work, which includes examining bank accounts and assets. The court also mandated accountability measures such as a chief vigilance officer and citizen advisory board.
The Supreme Court of India has expanded the ongoing investigation into land compensation irregularities in Noida, directing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the roles of former chief executive officers and senior officials of the Noida Authority over the past decade and a half. The court clarified that the probe will focus on alleged collusion, irregularities, and misuse of power by officials, while ensuring that farmers who received higher compensation are not penalised. Advertisement
The bench, led by Justice Surya Kant along with Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh, granted the SIT an additional two months to complete its investigation. Officials of the Noida Authority, through their legal representation, sought permission to submit an affidavit explaining the authority's position, which the court accepted.
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing farmers, highlighted that landowners had been approached by the SIT to provide statements and sought protection, emphasizing that farmers were not responsible for procedural issues or overcompensation. The court reinforced that the investigation aims solely at officials actions and any collusion, not at penalising landowners.
The broader probe follows an earlier Supreme Court directive to examine allegations that certain Noida officials collaborated with builders to pay compensation significantly above legally mandated levels. The SIT has been tasked with examining bank accounts, assets, and transactions of suspected beneficiaries, with support from forensic auditors and economic offence experts.
The Supreme Court had outlined key areas for investigation: whether compensation exceeded legal entitlements, who authorised payments, possible collusion between officials and beneficiaries, and transparency and fairness in the Noida Authority's functioning. To strengthen accountability, the court instructed the state government to appoint a chief vigilance officer from IPS or CAG within two weeks and to form a citizen advisory board in Noida within a month. Further, no new projects in Noida will proceed without environmental impact assessment and approval from the apex court's green bench.
If the SIT finds prima facie evidence of criminal offences during the inquiry, cases will be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, ensuring that irregularities are properly addressed. This expanded investigation reflects a focus on systemic issues within the Noida Authority, aiming to restore public confidence in land acquisition and compensation processes in Uttar Pradesh.
Source PTI
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