The court mandated the expeditious disbursal of outstanding land acquisition compensation to beneficiaries and required the submission of a final completion certificate for the infrastructure project.

ORAL ORDER

(Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE)

15 05-02-2026 As per the order dated 15.01.2026, the petitioner, Vipin Kumar so also the learned counsel for the State, were directed to obtain specific instructions with regard to the averments made in paragraph-4 of the supplementary counter-affidavit filed by the N.H.A.I., wherein it has been stated that the total stretch of the road is 44.60 kms and the work of the entire project has been completed and the stretch has been opened for public use.

2. Though the petitioner submits that the work of the entire project has been completed, the learned counsel for the State disputes the said submission.

3. A supplementary counter-affidavit has been filed on behalf of Respondent No. 5, Om Prakash, D.L.A.O., Patna, wherein in paragraph nos. 9, 10, 11 and 12, it is stated as follows:-

"9. That so far the applications from the raiyats have not been received due to which the payments could not been done.

10. That the payment of the remaining amount shall be done at the earliest when the applications are submitted by the raiyats in the office of the District Land Acquisition Officer, Patna.

11. The payment of the remaining raiyats is under progress which shall be done without any delay.

12. That as far as the completion of the project is concerned, the authority of the NHAI has been contacted in this regard and it has been informed that the provisional completion certificate of the said project has been submitted in the office. In this regard the details may be furnished from the NHAI."

4. After going through the said affidavit, this Court is of the view that expeditious steps are required to be taken for payment of the balance amount of compensation in favour of the beneficiaries and the concerned authorities shall do the needful in that respect.

5. Since in paragraph no. 12 it has been stated that only a provisional completion certificate has been submitted, let the learned counsel for the N.H.A.I. obtain instructions as to when the final completion certificate of the project shall be submitted before the concerned authorities.

6. At this stage, Dr. K.N. Singh, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the N.H.A.I., submits that after completion of the project, inspection is required to be carried out by an independent Engineering Authority, which takes some time and thereafter the final completion certificate is issued. He further submits that he shall pass necessary instructions to the concerned authorities to expedite the inspection and apprise this Court on the next date about the developments made in this regard.

7. The learned counsel for the State shall also file an affidavit indicating the status of disbursal of the balance compensation amount.

8. List this matter on 12.03.2026.