In Brief
The Supreme Court addressed the rehabilitation of over 9,000 families displaced by the Sambalpur-Talcher Rail Link Project. While affirming that preferential employment treatment for land oustees is subject to prescribed qualifications and selection procedures, the Court held that rejecting 2,153 applicants on technical grounds—such as missing land acquisition certificates—was unjust. The Court directed the Railway Ministry to coordinate with local administration for verification of claims, grant fresh application opportunities with a 15-year age relaxation, and fill 82 vacancies plus future openings within two years from qualified oustees."
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