SC slams man with a fine of Rs 5 lakh for filing plea on decided case

A man has been slammed with a fine of Rs 5 lakh by the Supreme Court for filing a plea challenging the compensation awarded to him for his land in Noida, saying "it is gross abuse of process of law" as the case has already been decided.

A bench of justices Arun Mishra and M M Shantanagoudar dismissed the appeal of the man against the Allahabad High Court order by which his petition challenging the compensation awarded to him for the land acquired by the state for planned industrial development in Noida was rejected.

"Judges of Supreme Court have sat for two months and settled this issue. This is misuse of law. What is this going on? We will impose such a cost on you that people of this country will remember", the bench said after counsel for the petitioner said that the Allahabad High Court has wrongly dismissed his plea.

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Large-scale acquisition of agricultural and 'abadi' land of farmers of different villages of Greater Noida and Noida in the name of planned industrial development took place between 2005 and 2010.

The bench, which was initially inclined to impose a cost of Rs 25 lakh, said that once the matter has been decided by the apex court, it cannot be raised again and again.

The counsel then said that he is a poor farmer and cannot bear the cost imposed on him.

"We know everything. Do you want us to comment on the compensation these people have got after our verdict. Everybody has become crorepati after the verdict", the bench said directing the petitioner to deposit Rs 5 lakh with the Supreme Court Bar Association Welfare Fund for Advocates within two months.

It said, "We impose cost as the process of law is being misused and the case has been filed after our decision and grant of additional benefits. However, the similar question has been raised by the petitioner. It shows gross abuse of process of law."

On December 7, 2016, the Allahabad High Court had dismissed the plea of petitioner Ranveer Singh who challenged the supplementary award of compensation given to him by the competent authority for his land acquired in Noida.

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Singh's land was acquired by the Uttar Pradesh government in 2007 under the Land Acquisition Act. The acquisition proceedings were challenged by the petitioner which were upheld by the full bench of the high court.

Singh then challenged the order before the Supreme Court which was decided on May 14, 2005 and decision of the high court was held.

He was then given supplementary award by additional district magistrate (land acquisition), Gautam Budh Nagar but he again challenged it before the high court.

He said that an additional district magistrate has no jurisdiction to issue a supplementary award as there is no provision in the Land Acquisition Act.

He cited the Singur judgement of last year where the apex court has said that supplementary award is not legally permissible but the high court dismissed his plea, saying the verdict was read out of context.