JUDGMENT

Anil Kshetarpal, J. (Oral). - The petitioners pray for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus to direct the competent authority-Land Acquisition Collector to refer the dispute with regard to the apportionment of the compensation to the Principal Civil Court.

2. Admittedly, the petitioners are not the owners of the property. They claim compensation on the basis of some agreement to sell.

3. Sh. Chopra, Additional Advocate General, Punjab, has informed the Court that the Enforcement Directorate has already restrained the competent authority from disbursing the amount of the owners which is incorporated company.

4. Section 3(H)(4) of the National Highways Act, 1956, enables any person interested in the compensation, to file an application to the competent authority with a request to forward the dispute with regard to entitlement or apportionment to the Principal Civil Court.

5. The petitioners have applied under Section 76 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. In the present case, the acquisition is under the National Highways Act, 1956.

6. Keeping in view the aforesaid facts, the petitioners, if so