Chennai: Madras High Court has upheld Tamil Nadu government`s action in invoking urgent clause in the Land Acquisition Act to acquire 106.65 acres for setting up a 765/400kv sub-station in Dharmapuri district.
Justice V Dhanapalan said though the urgency clause would not be invoked easily, the government could do so taking into consideration the larger interest of the public.
The judge dismissed a petition from one M Madhan Mohan, who sought to quash an August 30 2011 Energy Department notification, seeking to acquire 30.12 acres of his land in Somanahalli and Pangunatham villages in Dharmapuri district.
Mohan had contended that the urgency clause under Sec. 17(2) of the Act could not be invoked without conducting an enquiry under 5A of the Act.
The judge said though the urgency clause could not be easily invoked, it could be done taking into consideration the fact that government and public at large would be benefitted by the project.
The state was facing a power crisis and the present scenario was alarming, the judge added.
PTI
