A. MUTHUSAMY AND ORS. Vs. THE PROJECT, DIRECTOR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (NHAI) AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) With the consent of the learned counsel appearing for the parties, the main Writ Petitions are taken up for final disposal.

(2.) Heard Mr. C.E. Pratap, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Mrs. S.R. Sumathy, learned counsel accepting notice on behalf of the first respondent in all the Writ Petitions and Mr. R. Lakshmi Narayanan, learned Additional Government Pleader accepting notice on behalf of the respondents 2 and 4, in all the Writ Petitions.

(3.) In these writ petitions, the lands belonging to the petitioners were acquired for the formation of the Four way laning of roads in NH - 47. The petitioners have not challenged the acquisition proceedings and the project has been implemented. Since the petitioners were not permitted to participate in the arbitration proceedings, and claiming enhanced compensation, they have submitted their respective representations 01.02.2016 before the District Collector to consider their case for grant enhanced compensation. However, those representations appear to have not been considered though other similarly placed persons cases were considered and it is stated that arbitration proceedings are in progress and the second respondent, without considering their representations, rejected the requested of the petitioners on ground that under the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956, the claim for enchancement of compensation should be made within a period of three years from the date of passing of an Award.