- (1.) The legislature of Uttar Pradesh enacted the U.P. Industrial Area Development Act, 1976 (hereinafter referred to as "the 1976 Act") for planned development of industrial and residential areas in the State. For achieving that object, the State Government constituted New Okhla Industrial Development Authority ("NOIDA"). Thereafter, a new township was established near the capital of the country. Unfortunately, allotment of land and plots in the new township have become subject matter of innumerable controversies and generated huge litigation in the Allahabad and Delhi High Courts and this Court.
(2.) NOIDA Entrepreneurs Association filed the above noted writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution by way of public interest litigation (PIL) for enforcement of their rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. It pleaded that the very object of creating NOIDA has been defeated because of major land scandals and prayed that a thorough probe be ordered into the allotment of land and plots and the abuse of power by the functionaries of NOIDA.
(3.) On 7.4.1997, this Court gave liberty to the petitioner to file amended writ petition and to place before the Court facts on the basis of which the writ petition could be treated as a PIL. In furtherance of that order, the petitioner filed amended petition. Thereafter, the Court issued notice dated 21.4.1997 on following two issues: "(1) Issue writ of mandamus and/or any appropriate writ and direct CBI to investigate into all the land allotments and conversion of lands made by NOIDA during the past 10 years. (2) Issue an appropriate writ and directions and frame guidelines for allotment of lands by NOIDA.";