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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 19466
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
MR ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J
K.Balasubramaniam – Appellant
Versus
The District Collector / The Land Acquisition officer – Respondent
Writ Petition | W.P.No.35735 of 2024
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr.Senthil.S
For the Respondents: Mr.P.Sathish, Additional Government Pleader
The respondents are mandated to consider the petitioner's representation regarding delayed compensation payments within a specified timeframe.
Headnote:In this Writ Petition filed under Article 226, the petitioner seeks interest on delayed compensation payments as per the RFCTLARR Act. The Court determines that the respondents must consider the petitioner's representation within twelve weeks. The first writ sought interest payment for delays, previously quashed the deduction of development charges.
Issues: Whether interest is payable under the RFCTLARR Act. Ratio: The Court directed consideration of representations without ruling on merits.
Result: Direction to the 1st respondent to pass final orders on the petitioner's representation within twelve weeks.
| Table of Content |
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| 1. petitioner seeks interest due to delays in compensation. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. court directed government to address representation within 12 weeks. (Para 3 , 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 12.01.2026 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.35735 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 14.08.2025 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 also seeks for payment of interest on the compensation amount paid towards arithmetical error in determining the compensation 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 10.11.2025. The petitioner had given a representation for the aforesaid purposes on 12.01.2026 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 12.01.2026 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 12.01.2026 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 this Writ Petition within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.
