Khushi Doshi
Published on: March 29, 2022 at 18:52 IST
The Supreme Court refused to stay the Land Survey and Social Impact Assessment for the proposed K-Rail Silverline project, a semi-speed rail corridor connecting Kerala’s southern and northern ends.
A Bench of Justices M R Shah and B V Nagarathna dismissed the Appeal filed against an Order of the Kerala High Court Division Bench allowing the survey.
The Division Bench had stayed a Single Bench Order that had halted the project’s survey, which had been met with widespread opposition.
Junking the Appeal, the Supreme Court said, “The Single Judge ought to have appreciated that by such Ad Interim Order the prestigious project couldn’t have been stalled. The Division Bench rightly interfered and set aside such an Interim Order. It is required to be noted that the Proceedings at that stage was with respect to Social Impact Assessment studies only, which would not cause any Prejudice to Petitioners. We are in complete agreement with Division Bench’s view. No interference of this Court is called and Special Leave Petition stands Dismissed.”
Setting aside the Single Judge’s ruling, the High Court Division Bench accepted the state Government’s claim that the survey is just for the purpose of demarcating the project alignment for Social Impact Assessment (SIA) analysis, and that land purchase occurs afterwards.
Also Read: Railways to Kerala High Court: Advisable to stop Land Acquisition for SilverLine project
