Property Rights Amendment — Current Affairs 2026
Current Affairs Connections
Supreme Court to Re-examine 'Public Purpose' in Land Acquisition for Infrastructure Projects
October 2025The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a batch of petitions challenging the interpretation of 'public purpose' under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act) for large-scale infrastructure projects. Petitioners argue that land acquired for private entities, even if deemed 'public-private partnership', often lacks genuine public benefit and leads to inadequate compensation for affected landowners. This debate directly links to the post-44th Amendment framework, where the state's power to acquire property under Article 300A is contingent on a valid 'authority of law' and a legitimate 'public purpose'. The Court's ruling could redefine the boundaries of eminent domain in India.
UPSC Angle: This case highlights the ongoing tension between state development goals and individual property rights, a core theme of the 44th Amendment. It's relevant for Mains GS-II (Polity & Governance) and GS-III (Economy, Land Reforms) for understanding the practical application of Article 300A, the LARR Act, and judicial interpretation of 'public purpose' and compensation adequacy. Aspirants should analyze the balance between economic growth and social justice.
Farmers' Protests Intensify Over Compensation for Highway Expansion in Northern States
March 2026Farmers in several northern states have launched renewed protests, demanding higher compensation and better rehabilitation packages for land acquired for national highway expansion projects. They allege that the compensation offered, while adhering to the LARR Act, does not truly reflect market value or account for the loss of livelihood and future earnings. This situation underscores the persistent challenges in land acquisition, even with the LARR Act in place. The 44th Amendment removed the fundamental right to property, making compensation adequacy a legislative matter, but public dissatisfaction and judicial interventions (under Article 226) continue to test the limits of 'authority of law' and 'just' compensation in the absence of a fundamental right.
UPSC Angle: This event is a direct manifestation of the practical implications of the 44th Amendment and the LARR Act. It's crucial for Mains GS-II (Polity, Social Justice) and GS-III (Economy, Agriculture, Land Reforms). Questions could focus on the effectiveness of the LARR Act, the role of Article 300A in balancing development and rights, and the socio-economic impact of land acquisition on vulnerable populations. It also connects to the broader theme of farmer welfare and agrarian distress.