Allahabad High Court on Friday directed district administration to return the 589-acre land in Greater Noida West’s Patwari village to the farmers within 30 days.

Coming down heavily on the authorities of Gautam Buddh Nagar and Greater Noida Authority for not complying with the previous order, the court has directed ADM (law & Order) to take care of the matter. It also directed the Chairman of Greater Noida Authority to be present in court for the next date of hearing scheduled on July 11.

Hearing the contempt plea filed by Teekam Singh along with 700 farmers, Justice Ranvijay Singh considered it a contempt of court’s order and ordered the authority to comply with the order strictly within one month period. “ADM (law & Order) must ensure transfer of land to farmers and the Chairman of Noida Authority to inform execution of order by appearing in court for the next hearing,” observed the bench. The court, in its order on February 3, had directed the return of land to farmers within 60 days but the order was not followed through by the authority.

There are a total of 1,700 farmers in more than 12 villages whose land falls in Patwari. The authority has begun registering land from farmers and allowed builders to start construction. Several builders have raised up to 12 floors in their projects in Patwari. Several colleges and other institutions too are being run on this land.

Shishir Singh, ADM (law & Order) told The Pioneer that although they have not received a copy of the court’s order, they will abide by it. “We will go through the order after receiving it and will initiate further course of action,” said Singh.