GURLAL SINGH Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Short reply dtd. 25/9/2025 has been filed on behalf of respondent No.3 and the same is taken on record. A copy of the same has been supplied to the opposite counsel.

(2.) In the present case, the challenge has been laid on behalf of the petitioners to the notice dtd. 19/1/2022/27/1/2022, whereby the petitioners were directed to refund/deposit the amount of compensation paid to them in excess. Briefly stating, some land owned by the petitioners along with co-sharer i.e., respondent No.4, falling in Khasra No.36"/17 and 36"/14, in the revenue estate of Chabba, Tehsil and District Amritsar, came to be acquired vide notification dtd. 21/10/2020 issued under Sec. 3-A of the National Highways Act, 1956, (hereinafter to be referred as '1956 Act') followed by notifications dtd. 18/12/2020 and 25/12/2020 issued under Sec. 3D of the Act. The award under Sec. 3G of the Act was passed by the Collector-cum-Sub Divisional Magistrate, Amritsar-2 on 29/4/2021, the entire amount of compensation against the aforementioned land was paid to the petitioners by way of three installments dtd. 9/12/2021, 13/12/2021 and 15/12/2021.

(3.) As soon as the remaining co-sharers approached the respondents for release of their share of the compensation amount, notice dtd. 19/1/2022 was served upon the petitioners by the office of respondent No.3, directing them to refund the excess amount. By way of the present writ petition, the petitioners have challenged the aforesaid notice dtd. 19/1/2022.