Implement CRDA master plan within 6 months, handover the developed plots of farmers: AP HC to govt
In a major shock to the Andhra Pradesh government, the High Court asked the government to follow the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) master plan and implement it within six months.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 3 March 2022 9:15 AM GMT
Amaravati: In a major blow to the Andhra Pradesh government, the High Court has asked the government to follow the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) master plan and implement it within six months.
Following this, the court has asked the government to hand over the developed plots of farmers, with all the facilities, within three months. The High Court also said the petitioners should be given compensation by the government.
During a hearing on Thursday, the HC allowed petitions challenging the trifurcation of the capital city. The proposed formation of three capitals by the state government was challenged by the farmers of Amaravati. The High Court constituted a full Bench comprising Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Nainala Jayasurya to hear petitions filed by the farmers of Amaravati challenging the YSRCP government's decision to form three capitals.
According to the farmers, the government had entered into an agreement by offering their land under the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS), promising to develop a new capital. But later, it had decided to form three capitals in different cities in order to ensure the development of all parts of the state.
Here is a timeline of the events leading to the rollback of the three capital bills that intended to have the administrative capital in Visakhapatnam, the judicial capital in Kurnool, and the legislative capital in Amaravati.
December 17, 2019: Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy made a statement in the Assembly hinting at three state capitals. Protests broke out in the Amaravati capital region on the same day and is continuing.
December 20, 2019: GN Rao committee submitted a report to the AP government suggesting three capitals for the overall development of the state. The Bill was passed in the Assembly.
December 29, 2019: The state government formed a high-power committee to study the GN Rao committee report.
January 20, 2020: The Cabinet approved the report of the high-power committee on three capitals and drafted bills for the trifurcation of the capital.
January 21, 2020: The Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed the CRDA Repeal Act and Bill to decentralize capital.
January 22, 2020: The Bill was introduced in the Legislative Council, referred to a select committee.
January 22, 2020: Amaravati farmers moved the AP High Court challenging the twin legislations.
April 24, 2020: The High Court issued notices to the state and Central governments to file affidavits in the PIL filed challenging shifting of executive capital to Visakhapatnam.
July 23, 2020: The High Court issued notices to the state and Central governments to file affidavits in all petitions filed connected to three capitals and bifurcation issues.
June 16, 2020: The AP Assembly passes the Bill for the second time.
July 31, 2020: The Governor gives assent to the three capital Bill. Over 150 petitions were filed in the High Court. They were compressed to 57 petitions.
August 4, 2020: The High Court stays the capital Bill and adjourns the case to 14 August.
August 12, 2020: The Governor gives assent to the three capital Bill.
August 26, 2020: The Supreme Court declines to interfere with the stay orders issued by the High Court on the three capitals row.
November 15, 2021: Hearing finally resumes on capital petitions before the special Bench of Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, Justice M. Satyanarayana Murthy, and Justice D.V.S.S Somayajulu.
November 22, 2021: The state government informed the High Court that the Cabinet has resolved to repeal both the impugned legislations.
