Chennai, Apr 27 - The Madras High Court today upheld acquisition proceedings of land in Anna Salai, Anna Nagar and some other places for the ongoing Chennai Metro Rail Project (CMRP).

Dismissing a batch of writ petitions from EMCETE and Sons Private Ltd and six others, Justice V K Sharma observed 'On consideration, I find no force in these writ petitions.'

Noting that the objections of the petitioners had been considered and that they were informed that their objections could not be accepted, the Judge said the bonafide of the government in acquiring the lands could not be doubted.

Rejecting the contention that the urgency clause had been mechanically invoked, the Judge said it had been invoked keeping in view the real urgency and to see that the project did not come to a standstill at any stage.

The Judge said the writ petitions were not maintainable in view of the settled law that it was not open to land owners to challenge the acquisition proceedings after the award was passed.

Since the petitioners had participated in the award proceedings, they could not now challenge the acquisition, the judge said and dismissed the petitions. PTI