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2024 Supreme(Online)(MAD) 8076
2024:MHC:692 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Reserved on: 29.09.2023 Pronounced on : 08.02.2024 CORAM THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR CMA(MD)Nos.104, 839, 912 & 12274 of 2019 & 437, 399, 442, 535, 538 & 566 of 2020 & 515 of 2017 & 515, 444, 447, 554 & 553 of 2023 &CMP(MD)Nos.9277, 11633, 10460, 1936, 1941, 1937, 2274, 1939, 8197, 8501, 8511, 8675, 8728, 9011, 9243, 9736, 9738, 10323, 11247, 11257, 11272, 11250, 11295, 11275, 11258, 12285, 863, 864, 11980, 12283, 11263, 11317, 11631, 11632, 7200, 570, 5588, 5607, 7415 & 7201 of 2023 & 11057, 12255&916 of 2019, 10621 of 2021 & 4883, 5155, 5162, 5562, 5624 & 5892 of 2020 in CMA(MD) Sr.Nos.21734, 21737, 16272, 21736, 2020, 2023, 2021, 2024, 21735, 21727, 30707, 30708, 15336, 25398, 25396, 21733, 25395, 35578, 35577, 25397, 25401, 25402, 21732, 21729 & 21726 of 2023 & 66748, 66751, 66749, 81482, 66750 of 2022 CMA(MD).No.104 of 2019 The Project Director National Highways No.7, National Highways Authority of India, 83/1, S.B.I. First Colony extension, (Near Gowri Krishna Hotel)
Bye pass road, Madurai-16 And now Plot No.3, Surya Towers 2nd Floor, 1st East Street, K.K.Nagar, Madurai 625 020. ... Appellant vs.
1.R.Karuppiah
2.The District Revenue Officer/
Competent Authority for Land Acquisition, (National Highways-7) Collectorate Building, Madurai – 625 020. ... Respondents Prayer:Civil Miscellaneous Appeal filed under Section 37(1) and (2) of Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to set aside the order made in Arbitration O.P.No.3 of 2013 dated :17.09.2018 on the file of the Principal District Judge, Madurai.
| Case No. | For petitioner | For respondents |
| CMP(MD).No.9277 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.11633 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.10460 of 2023 | Mr.S.Krishakan For S.Sankarapandian | Mr.N.Palanisamy |
| CMA(MD).No.104 of 2019 | Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ Sekar, Senior counsel forM/s.C.Arulvadivel Associates | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD).No.839 of 2019 | Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ Sekar, Senior counsel forM/s.C.Arulvadivel Associates | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD).No.912 of | Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| 2019 | Sekar, Senior counsel forM/s.C.Arulvadivel Associates | |
| CMA(MD).No.916 of 2019 | Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ Sekar, Senior counsel forM/s.C.Arulvadivel Associates | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD).Nos.437 & 399 of 2020 | Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ Sekar, Senior counsel forM/s.C.Arulvadivel Associates | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD).No.442 of 2020 | Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ Sekar, Senior counsel forM/s.C.Arulvadivel Associates | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD).No.535 of 2020 | Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ Sekar, Senior counsel forM/s.C.Arulvadivel Associates | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD).No.538 of 2020 | Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ Sekar, Senior counsel forM/s.C.Arulvadivel Associates | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD).No.566 of 2020 | Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ Sekar, Senior counsel forM/s.C.Arulvadivel Associates | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).Nos.1936, 1941, 1937, 2274 & 1939 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.8197 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.8501 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.8511 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).Nos.8675 & 8728 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.9011 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.9243 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).Nos.9736 & 9738 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.10323 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).Nos.11247, 11257 & 11272 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).Nos.11250, 11295 & 11275 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).Nos.11258, 12285, 11980 & 12283 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD).Nos.863 & 864 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.11263 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.11317 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.11631 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD).No.11632 of 2023 | Mr.P.Karthick | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD) No.515 of 2017 | Mr.R.Govindaraj | Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ Sekar, Senior counsel for M/s.C.Arul Vadivel Associates |
| CMA(MD) No.444 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD) No.447 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD) No.444 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD) No.447 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD) No.554 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMA(MD) No.553 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD)No.7200 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD)No.570 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD)No.5588 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD)No.5607 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD)No.7415 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
| CMP(MD)No.7201 of 2023 | Mr.Su.Srinivasan | Mr.R.Govindaraj |
COMMON ORDER
This is a batch of 18 Civil Miscellaneous Appeals (CMAs) and 32 Miscellaneous Petitions for condonation of delay in filing CMAs. The issue that arises for consideration in both the appeals as well as the CMPs and the arguments that have been putforth are common. Hence, a consolidated order is passed disposing the batch.
2.The challenge relates to the awards passed by thePrincipal District and Sessions Judge, Theni, Principal District Judge, Madurai and The Special District Revenue Officer/Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (National Highways – 45 – E & 220), Theni under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (in short ‘1996 Act’) granting compensation for acquisition of lands belonging to the private respondents (herein after referred to as ‘land owners’/’individuals’) under the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956. The lands covered under this batch of CMAs are situated in three Districts i.e. Theni, Dindigul and Madurai.
3. In the batch of 18 appeals, 7 appeals relate to Dindigul, 10 to Madurai and one appeal is by an individual from Theni whose lands have been acquired wherein he seeks enhanced compensation/solatium on par with other persons who are similarly placed (C.M.A.No.515 of 2017).
4.Mr.Govindarajan, learned counsel appears for all the individuals, barring one matter i.e. CMP(MD)No.10460 of 2023 in which Mr.N.Palanisamy, learned counsel appears. Mr.Su.Srinivasan and Mr.P.Karthick, learned counsel appear for the Project Directors of Theni and Dindigul and Mr.C.Arul Vadivel, learned Senior counsel appears for M/s.Arul Vadivel Associates for the Project Director, Madurai and detailed submissions have been heard.
5. Three Notifications were issued by the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways (Department of Road, Transport and Highways) dated 11.05.2006, 28.07.2006 and 09.06.2010 under the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956 (in short ‘NH Act’)for acquisition of lands for building (widening/four-laning etc.), maintenance and management and operation of i) National Highway No.7, including the bypass, on the stretch of land from Km 41.000 to KM 91.200 (Madurai – Kanniyakumari Section) in the district of Virudhunagar in the State of Tamil Nadu ii) National Highway No.7 on the stretch of land from Km 409.000 to KM 427.000 (Bangalore-Salem- Madurai Section) in Madurai District, in the State of Tamil Nadu iii) National Highway No.45, Extension on the stretch from Km 37.800 to Km 73.400 and National Highway No.220 on the stretch of land from Km.215.500 to Km.273.600 (Project Chainage) (Dindigul to Theni and Kumuli Section) in District Theni, in the State of Tamil Nadu.
6. All individuals who are parties in this batch of Civil Miscellaneous Appeals are owners of lands coming within the schedule to the Notifications as aforesaid. The petitioners had filed their objections upon the publication of the Notifications for acquisition of land upon consideration of which, the Special District Revenue Officer had rejected the same, instead awarding compensation in respect of the lands acquired and for the loss of infrastructure thereupon, including immovable property and trees.
7. In computing the compensation to be awarded, the competent authority had, in all cases adopted the guideline value of awarding compensation along with 10% appreciation as per Section 3(g)(2) of the NH Act. Appeals were filed before the District Collector in terms of Section 3(g)(5) of the NH Act.
8. The appeals were to be decided applying the provisions of the NH Act of which Section 3(g)(7) states that the competent authority or the Arbitrator while determining the amount of compensation shall take into consideration the market value of the land on the date of publication of the Notification.
9. The authority rejected the appeals in all cases confirming the order of the competent authority. The request for solatium was rejected on the ground that the Act only provides for appreciation of 10% as per Sec
