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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 19465
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J
A.Inayathullah – Appellant
Versus
The District Collector / The Land Acquisition officer, Chinnasalem-Kallakurichi, New Broad Gauge Railway Line Project, Collectorate, Kallakurichi – Respondent
Writ Petition | W.P.No.35751 of 2024
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr.Senthil.S
For the Respondents: Mr.P.Sathish, Additional Government Pleader
The failure to pay timely compensation under the RFCTLARR Act can merit judicial intervention for the payment of interest.
Headnote:The petitioner filed a Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking a Writ of Mandamus for payment of interest on delayed compensation as per Section 72 of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013. The petitioner previously quashed a 1/3rd deduction of compensation due to development charges in W.P.No.35751 of 2024. The Court directed the 1st respondent to consider the petitioner's representation for interest on compensation within twelve weeks. The Court did not express an opinion on the merits of the representation.
| Table of Content |
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| 1. petitioner seeks interest on delayed compensation from land acquisition. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. court notices representations and establishes the framework for response. (Para 3) |
| 3. court directs final orders on the representation regarding interest. (Para 4) |
O R D E R
This Writ Petition has been filed to direct the 1st respondent to pay interest on the alleged delay in payment of the compensation to the petitioner in respect of the lands acquired from the petitioner based on his representation dated 08.12.2025 within a time frame fixed by this Court.
2.Earlier, the petitioner had challenged the deduction of 1/3rd from the compensation amount determined by the respondents on account of development charges before this Court by filing a Writ Petition in W.P.No.35751 of 2024. By the order dated 25.11.2024, the said Writ Petition came to be allowed and the deduction of 1/3rd towards development charges was quashed by this Court. In view of the same, the petitioner was also paid the 1/3rd deducted amount. However, according to the petitioner, there was a delay on the part of the respondents to pay the entire compensation amount. The petitioner seeks for payment of interest for the delayed payment at the rate of 9% per annum for the first year till 19.06.2025 and thereafter, at the rate of 15% per annum till 13.08.2025 as per the provisions of Section 72 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘RFCTLARR Act’ for the sake of convenience). The petitioner had given a representation for the aforesaid purposes on 08.12.2025 to the respondents. Since the same has not been considered, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition. No prejudice would be caused to the respondents if the petitioner’s representation dated 08.12.2025 is considered in accordance with law within the time frame to be fixed by this Court.
3.Mr.P.Sathish, learned Additional Government Pleader takes notice on behalf of the respondents.
4.This Court is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner’s representation. For the foregoing reasons, this Writ Petition is disposed of by directing the 1st respondent to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law on the petitioner’s representation dated 08.12.2025 seeking for payment of interest for the alleged delay in payment of the entire compensation amount to the petitioner in respect of the lands acquired from him which is the subject matter of the Writ Petition within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. However, there shall be no order as to costs. 02-03-2026 Index: Yes/No (4/6)
