Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 15: High Court today directed the Government to consider release of compensation for villagers for acquiring their land, as per the decision of National Highway Authority of India.
The Court of Justice M K Hanjura passed the direction in a writ petition filed by a number of villagers alleging therein that the compensation by the Government in lieu of land acquired for widening of National Highway is not proper.
The court issued notice to the State of Jammu and Kashmir through Commissioner Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, District Development Commissioner, Budgam, District Development Commissioner, Bandipora, District Development Commi-ssioner, Pulwama, Collector Land Acquisition Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Budgam, Collector Land Acquisition PWD, Srinagar, Collector Land Acquisition, Additional Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, National Highway Authority of India, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Government of India through its Project Director, PIU Srinagar, Regional Head, National Highway Authority of India, Jammu and Branch Head National Highway Authority of India PIU Srinagar to respond to the plea of villagers.
Court directed the authorities to consider the release of compensation in accordance with the decision taken by National Highway Authority of India on October, 2017. Court, however, said the payment of compensation to the villagers shall remain subject to the result of writ petition.
Villagers through their petition seek quashing of entire land acquisition proceedings for acquiring their land which has been initiated by the concerned Collectors of districts.
They submit that the authorities be directed to pay compensation to them for acquiring the land in terms of the decision of NHAI and accordingly pay compensation to them if their land is taken, in strict compliance to the said decision of NHAI. “The respondents be prohibited from taking possession of the land of the petitioners unless and until the compensation in terms of the said decision is not paid to them and to this effect appropriate writ may be issued”, they pray.
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