The Karnataka High Court on Thursday quashed the final notification issued by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to acquire land for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for setting up a cricket academy on Nandi Hills Road near Devanahalli here. However, the court retained the preliminary notifications issued while remanding the matter back to the KIADB for a fresh decision after considering the objections raised by the landowners.
Meanwhile, the BCCI filed a memo stating it is now not interested in the land.
Justice Ashok B. Hinchigeri passed the order on a petition filed by Lakshmi Gopal Makhija and others challenging the acquisition proceedings initiated by KIADB in 2011 after the State government in 2010 approved the BCCI project.
Nearly 50 acres at Kodugurki and Yemaranahalli villages of Devanahalli taluk was proposed for acquisition for the project, which encompassed a stadium, training centre, gym and conference halls.
The petitioners had contended that that sports did not come under the purview of industry and related purposes as envisaged in the KIAD Act.
