GANGA RAM Vs. SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) With the consent of learned counsel for the parties, all these five petitions are being disposed of by a common order. In all these petitions, a prayer has been made by the petitioner(s) to extend the time for completion of the arbitral proceedings pending before the Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, District Mandi, exercising the powers of Arbitrator under Sec. 3 of the National Highways Act, 1956.

(2.) The arbitral disputes arise out of the land acquisition in District Bilaspur, H.P. for the purpose of construction of the National Highway, land for which has been acquired under the provisions of National Highways Act, 1956. The land of the petitioners has been acquired in these cases in terms of the following awards: <FRM>JUDGEMENT_74_LAWS(HPH)3_2023_1.html</FRM>

(3.) Feeling aggrieved by the aforesaid Awards, the landowners have preferred Reference Petitions which are pending before the learned Arbitrator and non-adjudication of the arbitral proceedings within the statutory period has resulted in filing of the instant petitions.