The court determined that a formal request for reference must be made to challenge the quantum of compensation received under protest.

ORDER

The petitioner is a charitable trust. The lands of the trust were acquired under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Lands for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997. Award dated 10.09.2025 is challenged in this writ petition and the petitioner seeks enhanced compensation on par with the compensation received by owners of flats in the same residential apartments complex.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the compensation was received under protest without prejudice to the right to challenge the quantum.

3. Mr.P.Sathish, learned Additional Government Pleader, accepts notice for respondents 2 and 3 and Mr.B.Vijay, learned standing counsel, accepts notice for the first respondent. Mr.B.Vijay raises a preliminary objection that an acquisition award cannot be challenged in a writ petition. He submits that the recourse available to the petitioner is to make a request for reference for enhanced compensation.

4. The petitioner has communicated to all the respondents that the compensation of Rs.1,24,76,000/- was received under protest and without prejudice to the right to challenge the quantum. This communication may be treated as a request for reference and the second respondent may make the reference to the reference court on such basis.

5. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of by directing the second respondent to treat communication dated 04.12.2025 as a request for reference and to make the reference to the court concerned within three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Such reference shall be made without going into the question of limitation. All contentions are left open to the petitioner. No costs. Consequently, the connected writ miscellaneous petition is closed.