NETA SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this writ petition filed under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has prayed for issuance of a writ in the nature of Mandamus directing the respondents to pay the amount of compensation amounting to Rs. 71,47,953/ - along with interest of his acquired land measuring 443.08 marlas for setting up of Peona Power Plant at village Gobindpura, District Mansa as other co -owners who were similarly situated had been paid compensation on or after 25.3.2011 in pursuance to the awards dated 25.3.2011 (Annexure P -1/A Colly).

(2.) The respondents in the year 2011 issued a notification under Sec. 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (in short "the Act") followed by notification under Sec. 6 of the Act for acquisition of village Gobindpura, District Mansa including the land of the petitioner for setting up of Thermal Plant at village Gobindpura, Tehsil Budhlada, District Mansa. The awards dated 25.3.2011 (Annexure P -1/A Colly) were passed by respondent No. 3. The possession of the land of the petitioner was taken but the amount of compensation was not paid to him. However, all other similarly situated persons had been paid the amount of compensation. One similarly placed person, namely, Babu Singh who had not been granted the compensation for acquisition of his 330 marlas of land, had filed CWP No. 3837 of 2013 and in pursuance to the order of this Court dated 18.7.2013 (Annexure P -2), the respondents had given compensation to him of 37 marlas of land only. Thereafter he had filed COCP No. 3199 of 2013 and was granted compensation for 330 marlas of land. Similarly, CWP Nos. 7437, 23875 of 2014 and 4000 of 2015 were filed by similarly situated persons for the payment of compensation and this Court vide orders dated 23.4.2014 (Annexure P -3), dated 21.11.2014 (Annexure P -4) and 25.3.2015 (Annexure P -5) disposed of the said writ petitions with a direction to the respondents to pass a speaking order regarding their claim and in case they were entitled to compensation, the same be paid to them along with interest and thereafter, they had been paid the compensation. Similarly, Harjinder Singh and others filed CWP No. 14795 of 2014 for release of balance compensation amount along with interest and this Court vide order dated 30.7.2014 (Annexure P -6) directed to the respondents to make the necessary payment within a period of four months from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order. When said Harjinder Singh and others were paid less compensation, they filed COCP No. 3423 of 2014 and thereafter they were paid balance compensation along with interest as depicted in the reply dated 9.2.2015 (Annexure P -7) filed to the COCP No. 3423 of 2014. In the same way, Darshan Singh and others filed CWP No. 13072 of 2014 for payment of compensation and this Court vide order dated 10.7.2014 (Annexure P -8) disposed of the said writ petition with a direction to pay the compensation amount along with interest. On filing of COCP No. 2869 of 2014, they had been paid the amount of compensation as is discernible from the reply dated 21.5.2014 (Annexure P -9) filed in the said contempt petition. The petitioner moved a representation dated 13.3.2013 (Annexure P -11) for release of the compensation amount to respondents No. 2 and 3, but to no effect. Thereafter, the petitioner served a legal notice dated 9.9.2015 (Annexure P -12) to the respondents, but no response has been received. Hence, the present writ petition.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that for the relief claimed in the writ petition, the petitioners have sent a representation dated 13.3.2013 (Annexure P -11) to respondents No. 2 and 3 for the payment of compensation, but to no effect. Thereafter, the petitioner served a legal notice dated 9.9.2015 (Annexure P -12) to the respondents, but no action has so far been taken thereon. Reliance was also placed on the order dated 25.3.2015 (Annexure P -5) passed by the Division Bench of this Court in CWP No. 4000 of 2015 titled as Bharpur Singh and Others v/s. State of Punjab and Others.