Rajasthan High Court records resumption of Champa Bagh land acquisition process, disposes of contempt petition

UDAIPUR, The Rajasthan High Court has disposed of a contempt petition filed by Mohanlal Sukhadia University after the state government informed the court that it had resumed proceedings under Section 5-A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, in the long-pending acquisition of land at Champa Bagh.

During the hearing, the court was informed that notices under Section 5-A had been issued by the Land Acquisition Officer and Tehsildar, Girwa, to the affected landholders in compliance with the High Court's May 30, 2024 judgment. After taking the submission on record, the court disposed of the contempt petition.

According to the university, the land acquisition process was initiated in 1981 to facilitate the institution's expansion and future development plans. However, the proceedings remained stalled for more than four decades because of litigation and interim court orders.

In its May 30, 2024 ruling, a division bench of the Rajasthan High Court directed the state government to provide affected landholders with a fresh opportunity to file objections under Section 5-A before completing the acquisition process in accordance with the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

The university said it filed the contempt petition in 2026 after alleging that the acquisition process had not been resumed despite repeated representations and the High Court's directions.

Section 5-A of the Land Acquisition Act gives affected landholders the statutory right to raise objections to a proposed land acquisition. After considering those objections, the competent authority submits its recommendations to the state government, which then decides on the next stage of the acquisition process.

The university said objections had previously been heard under Section 5-A in 2007, following an order of a single judge of the High Court, and the Land Acquisition Officer had recommended that the acquisition proceed. However, the process was halted again after interim orders were issued in appeals filed in 2008.

The university further alleged that widespread encroachments and unauthorized construction took place on the land during the period when the matter remained under judicial stay. Those allegations have not been adjudicated in the present proceedings.

With the contempt petition now disposed of, the Section 5-A proceedings will continue. Following hearings on objections from affected landholders, the competent authority will submit its report to the state government for further action in accordance with the law.

Advocate Ankur Mathur appeared on behalf of Mohanlal Sukhadia University before the Rajasthan High Court.