JUDGMENT

[WP(C) Nos.13711/2025, 11934/2025, 11941/2025, 11959/2025, 11964/2025, 11982/2025, 11983/2025, 12006/2025, 12010/2025, 12038/2025, 12203/2025, 12560/2025, 12841/2025, 12842/2025, 12843/2025, 12850/2025, 13378/2025, 13476/2025, 13582/2025, 13603/2025, 13605/2025, 13634/2025, 13702/2025, 18617/2025, 18759/2025, 18779/2025, 18842/2025, 18947/2025, 26106/2025, 26121/2025]

In this batch of 30 cases, the issue involved is common to the effect that whether a person whose property has been acquired in terms of the National Highways Act, 1956 , is entitled to solatium and interest on the amount awarded by the competent authority. In all these cases, the properties of the respective petitioners have been acquired by the National Highway for widening the bypass at Kodungallur in terms of the .

2. These 30 cases can be categorised into three. The first category of cases is where Awards have been passed by the competent authority, against which arbitration proceedings have been taken up before the District Collector and awards passed. The said awards are the subject matter of challenge in an arbitration appeal, pending before the District Court, Thrissur. W.P.(C) No.13702 of 2025,