High Court directs BU to negotiate with land owners, compensate them under three categories

The Madras High Court has directed Bharathiar University to categorise under three divisions the erstwhile land owners whose holdings were acquired to establish the institution.

The directive issued last week requires the University to hold negotiations with the land owners and arrive at mutually agreeable compensation metrics.

The University acquired land exceeding 950 acres in Somayampalayam and Vadavalli panchayats in the 1980s, from predominantly small and marginal farmers.

In 2022, the Madras High Court rejected the appeals of the State government against the extent of compensation ordered by the District Sessions Court in 2007.

Backed by Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam and CPI (M), the farmers had staged a protest last year reminding the DMK government of its 2021 election promise for securing due compensation within 100 days of assuming power.

According to CPI (M), the total compensation payable to farmers, including interest, exceeded ₹600 crore.

The reasoning of the farmers is that if the State Government faces funds crunch it should return the unused land to the farmers.

According to university sources, a total of about 950 acres were acquired from the farmers.