Court orders status quo amid dispute over compensation under old land law.

Allahabad High Court Stays Land Acquisition for UP Housing Schemes in Ayodhya.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has stayed ongoing land acquisition proceedings for various housing schemes of the Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad in Ayodhya. The interim order directs all parties, including the Uttar Pradesh government and district authorities, to maintain the status quo at the affected sites. The stay was granted by a division bench comprising Justices Rajan Roy and Manjive Shukla while hearing a batch of 11 writ petitions filed by landowners. The petitioners argued that compensation was being determined under the Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad Adhiniyam, 1965, which offers significantly lower payouts compared to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. During Wednesday’s hearing, counsel for the petitioners concluded their arguments. The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on Thursday, keeping all acquisition activities on hold until then.