Land acquisition proceedings in 16 Rewari villages continue to be on hold, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directing status quo till the next date of hearing on October 30. The land was to be acquired for setting up a model industrial logistic hub in the area. The status quo was initially ordered on June 6. As the case came up for resumed hearing this morning, Acting Chief Justice Ashutosh Mohunta and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu directed the continuation of interim orders, while giving time to the respondents to file reply. The order came on a petition against the proceedings by the Bhoomi Adhigrahan Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti that represents 16 villages of Rewari district. Supreme Court advocate Dr Surat Singh and counsel Vikas Chaudhary had earlier argued that the Haryana Government initially issued the notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act on July 14, 2011, followed by another notification under Section 6 on July 11, 2012, to acquire 3,600 acres in 16 villages of Rewari district. Acting on an earlier plea by some farmers, the High Court had on September 11, 2013, directed the Haryana Government to carry out a fresh survey before providing an opportunity of hearing to the affected parties. The state was then asked to pass a speaking order on the issue. Dr Surat Singh argued neither the survey was completed on time, nor was an opportunity provided to the affected parties, let alone the passing of a speaking order. Dr Surat Singh also argued that the new land Act, ‘The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013’, in the meantime come into effect from January 1, 2014. Despite the new Act, which provides safeguards to the affected parties, the Haryana Government issued a notification under Section 7 on April 11, 2014. The authorities were now threatening to dispossess the farmers of their only source of livelihood in an illegal and arbitrary manner, Dr Surat Singh said. Hearing on Oct 30 * The government had issued notifications to acquire 3,600 acres in 16 Rewari villages for a model industrial logistic hub * Rewari's Bhoomi Adhigrahan Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti moved court against the order * The case will come up for hearing on October 30