JUDGMENT

[Judgment of the Court was made by K.K. RAMAKRISHNAN .J.]

The appeal in C.M.A.(MD).No.88 of 2024 has been filed by the National Highways Authority, challenging the Arbitration award passed in A.R.O.P.No.33 of 2018, dated 23.06.2023, filed by the land owner to set aside the arbitration award by the Collector/Arbitrator dated 22.02.2018.

2. The first respondent owned lands along Dindigul – Theni and Theni - Kumuli National Highways Roads in the Survey No.680/2 (partly), situated at “Thamaraikulam Bit II Village”, Theni District. The Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways (Department of Road, Transport and Highways) issued the notification dated 18.06.2012 for acquisition of an extent of 2715 sq.mtr., or 67.086 cents of dry lands, trees and structures belonging to the respondents’ under Section 3(A) of the National Highways Act, 1956 (herein after called as “NHAI Act”) for expanding and laying four way track (National Highways road from Dindigul – Theni and Theni - Kumuli (NH45-Extn. & 220) under “the Golden Quadrilateral Scheme”. The National Highways Authority of India, (herein after called “NHAI”) is the implementing authority. The land owners submitted their objec