2 weeks ago
Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Against HC Order Quashing Naidu Case
A new capital city called Amaravati is being built in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Farmers gave their farmland for the city, and in return they were promised new plots of land.
A leader named Alla Rama Krishna Reddy said the land deal had big problems and complained to the police.
A case was started against Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and another minister named P Narayana.
Later, a state court in Andhra Pradesh said the case should be closed.
Someone challenged that decision, and the case went to the Supreme Court, the highest court in India.
The judges said farmers should always be protected.
But they also said this particular case looked like a quarrel between politicians, not a complaint from farmers.
They decided political battles should not be fought in court.
So the case stays closed, and this part of the legal fight has ended.
The Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Andhra Pradesh High Court order quashing the case against Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and minister P Narayana.
The case centred on alleged irregularities in the Amaravati land pooling scheme, which the petitioner said involved around 30,000 acres of land belonging to over 25,000 farmers.
The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, observed that the criminal proceedings were initiated by a political rival and that no farmer had come forward.
The FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act on March 12, 2021; the high court quashed it on July 15, finding it vitiated by mala fides and political vendetta.
Records show 28,181 landowners across 25 villages contributed 35,215 acres, and the Supreme Court clarified its decision will not affect other cases.
- Who
- The Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant; Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and minister P Narayana; petitioner and former YSRCP MLA Alla Rama Krishna Reddy, represented by senior advocate Ranjit Kumar.
- What
- The Supreme Court dismissed a plea challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court order quashing the case against Naidu and Narayana over alleged irregularities in the Amaravati land pooling scheme.
- Where
- New Delhi, where the Supreme Court heard the matter; Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, the site of the land pooling scheme.
- When
- Friday, August 14; the FIR was registered on March 12, 2021, and the high court quashed the case on July 15.
- Why
- The court observed that the criminal proceedings were initiated by a political rival, no farmer had come forward, and political battles should not be fought in court.
Petitioner's Allegations
Court's Determination
Nature of the case
Petitioner's Allegations
Alla Rama Krishna Reddy alleged large-scale irregularities involving around 30,000 acres of land belonging to over 25,000 farmers, and said farmers from SC, ST and other weaker sections were misled or pressured into giving up assigned lands.
Court's Determination
The court observed that the criminal proceedings were initiated by a political rival and that no farmer had come forward with a complaint.
Protection of farmers
Petitioner's Allegations
The petitioner argued that farmers, especially poorer and marginalised landholders, suffered losses and needed redress from the irregularities in the scheme.
Court's Determination
The court said, 'On the larger issue of farmers, we are with you. Whatever they are entitled to, we will protect', but noted that no farmer was a complainant in this particular case.
Validity of the FIR
Petitioner's Allegations
The complaint alleged that the government altered the land pooling framework to extend benefits to certain categories of assigned land, enabling private individuals and alleged encroachers to obtain developed plots.
Court's Determination
The High Court found the FIR lacked a sufficient legal foundation and was vitiated by mala fides and political vendetta, noting the APCRDA Act, 2014 provided for land pooling and that treating government policy decisions as criminal conspiracy was legally unsustainable.
Key facts
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana
- Accused
- Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and minister P Narayana
- Subject
- Alleged irregularities in the Amaravati land pooling scheme
- FIR date
- March 12, 2021, under the Prevention of Corruption Act
- High court order
- July 15, quashing Crime No. 5 of 2021
- Land involved
- Around 30,000 acres as claimed by the petitioner; records show 35,215 acres from 28,181 landowners in 25 villages
- Farmer package
- 1,000 sq yards residential and 250 sq yards commercial land per acre
Quotes
Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar
Advocate representing Alla Rama Krishna Reddy
“"Political battles should not be fought in court," the CJI told Kumar and disposed of the petition filed by Reddy challenging the July 15 order of the high court at Amaravati.”
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
“"The case had been initiated by a political rival and that no farmer had approached the court with a complaint."”
thehansindia.com
Sources
Related news
Rajasthan High Court quashes case against ex-Governor Kamla Beniwal
MP CM Suspends Katni CSP Amid Land Purchase Allegations
Court rejects anticipatory bail for suspended CSP Neha Pachisia
Supreme Court stays arrest of Abhishek Banerjee's aide Sumit Roy
Karnataka High Court stays probe into Bidadi township protest farmers
Supreme Court Questions SIT Over Two-Year AP Liquor Probe
Two Years After RG Kar Doctor's Rape-Murder, Case Remains Unresolved
ED widens Chhattisgarh probes with two arrests and searches
Delhi High Court Orders Madhya Pradesh to Pay Advocate Dues
Haryana sanitation workers’ strike puts BJP government under pressure
Orissa High Court Says Brothel Customers Cannot Face Trafficking Charges
