JUDGMENT

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

The appeal in C.M.A.(MD).No.232 of 2024 has been filed by the National Highways Authority, challenging the Arbitration award passed in A.R.O.P.No.47/2018 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 Nos. 1943/1(Partly)-326, 1943/3(Partly)-1072 (totally 1398 sq.metres or 34.544 cents) 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 1398 sq.mtr., or 34.544 cents of dry lands 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 author