Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Haryana SEZ Ltd on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of petitions filed by farmers challenging land acquisition against the firm?s special economic zone coming up in Jhajjar, Haryana.

A bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan issued notices to Jindal Mectechno Pvt Ltd and other farmers and tagged the Reliance?s three petitions with other similar matters pending before it.

Relaince Harayana is seeking transfer of petitions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the apex court so as to avoid multiplicity of proceedings on the issue.

Farmers have challenged the constitutional validity of the provisions of the SEZ Act, 2005 and SEZ Rules, 2006. Besides, they have also challenged the joint venture agreement between the Ambani SEZ and the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation for land acquisition proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act, 1984.

?It is desirable and will serve the end of justice that all proceedings pending all over the country relating to the constitutional validity of the SEZ Act and Rules made thereunder are withdrawn by this honourable court to itself and adjudicated so that the multiplicity of proceedings is avoided and that there is an authoritative determinations on this aspect,? the petitions filed by counsel KR Sasiprabhu stated. He further said that the final authoritative decision by the apex court would be the law declared for the country on the SEZ issue and would be in the larger public interest and the uncertainty on the issue can be avoided.

The Supreme Court is already hearing at least half a dozen cases that could change the contours of India?s policy on SEZs or even require a change to the 2005 Act.

The apex court had in 2008 transferred these cases to itself from across various state high courts to be able to hear the issue in its entirety.

There are also petitions, including Kuldeep Bishnoi and Others versus UoI, Karnataka Landless Farmers Association & others versus UoI, that raise questions about the acquisition of farmland for SEZs in Haryana.

Farmers have alleged that the SEZ Act effectively deprive workers in SEZs of the protection and equality in wages and service conditions available to workers outside SEZs.