UDAYAKUMAR Vs. PROJECT DIRECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Land having an extent of 59 square metres, owned by the appellant in Aluva West Village, with a portion of the building therein, was acquired for the purpose of widening of National Highway from Mannuthy to Aluva. Acquisition of land was made under the National Highways Act , 1956.

(2.) The Special Land Acquisition Officer, who is the competent authority under the National Highways Act , fixed the value of the land at Rs.5,88,100/- per Are and granted compensation for land at that rate. The Special Land Acquisition Officer also granted Rs.3,38,666/- as compensation for the structure in the acquired property.

(3.) Dissatisfied with the compensation granted by the competent authority, the appellant filed application under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act before the District Collector, Ernakulam (the arbitrator appointed by the Central Government under that Act) for initiating arbitral proceedings. The arbitrator found that the compensation granted by the Special Land Acquisition Officer is fair and reasonable and that the appellant is not entitled to get enhancement of compensation.