SC overturns land swap decision involving Giri Bandhu Tea Estate made by Oli-led govt

Kathmandu / Feb 7: The Supreme Court (SC) has overturned the decision of the previous government led by KP Oli to allow land swapping in the Giri Bandhu Tea Estate case in Jhapa.

The Constitutional Bench, comprising Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, and justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Prakash Man Singh Raut, Sapana Pradhan Malla and Sushma Lata Mathema, declared the decision null and void on Wednesday.

The matter concerning Giri Bandhu Tea Estate’s land was being reviewed by the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court.

KP Sharma Oli, during his tenure as the prime minister, made amendments to the Land Act, enabling Giri Bandhu Tea Estate to exchange around 280 bighas of land.

The tea estate aimed to swap its Birtamod land, valued at Rs 200 million per bigha, for less valuable land in Prithvinagar, Jhapa.

Advocate Om Prakash Aryal challenged the amendment to the Land Act, specifically disputing the provision allowing Giri Bandhu Tea Estate to conduct the land swap. Aryal filed the writ on August 15, 2021.

Giri Bandhu Tea Estate and similar companies were granted permission to hold land exceeding the prescribed limit for business purposes.

In the writ petition, Aryal argued that any company authorized to possess land beyond the permissible limit should return the surplus land to the government and should not be allowed to swap or sell the land.