Gujarat High Court reprimands the National Highway Authority, underscores the need for transparency, and dismisses an unwarranted appeal.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the Gujarat High Court has expressed serious concerns over the handling of land acquisition cases within the state. The court’s criticism highlights the prolonged neglect and suffering of the original landowners, who remain uncompensated and deprived of their rights long after their land has been acquired.
In the court session, Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee scolded the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for not being responsible and not taking responsibility for its actions. The court warned the top NHAI officials strongly, pointing out that their careless behavior and lack of accountability result in unnecessary legal problems for regular people.
The court expressed its frustration, saying,
“Your unnecessary legal battles are making people upset, and you are behaving like a ruler, which is unacceptable.”
There was a problem with the National Highway Authority Act involving private lands taken for public use. The person deciding how much money the landowners should get offered only one rupee per square meter, which was considered too low and against the law by an Arbitrator Tribunal. They said the fair amount should be six thousand rupees per square meter. The Commercial Court and the Gujarat High Court agreed with this decision and said no to NHAI’s appeal because it didn’t make sense.
The Gujarat High Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the NHAI’s approach to handling land acquisition cases, criticizing the authority for dragging landowners and farmers through unnecessary legal battles. This not only wastes years of their lives but also denies them the compensation and use of their land, leaving them disenfranchised. The court made it clear that such disregard for the rights of landowners and the consequent administrative chaos cannot be tolerated.
The Gujarat High Court’s strong stance against the NHAI serves as a reminder of the judiciary’s role in protecting the rights of citizens against administrative indifference and malpractice. By holding the NHAI accountable, the court aims to ensure that land acquisition processes are conducted fairly and transparently, respecting the rights and compensations of the affected landowners. This case underscores the importance of responsible governance and the need for authorities to act with integrity and sensitivity towards the people they serve.
