Ilabati Deb and 3 Ors. V. The Union of India and 12 Ors.

WA/375/2023

AI Insights

The case involves a dispute between the appellants, Ilabati Deb and others, and various governmental and infrastructural bodies regarding the valuation of their properties which were acquired for the widening and upgrading of National Highway-29 in Karbi Anglong, Assam. The appellants contested the valuation and sought an interim order to prevent the demolition of their properties, which was granted by the Arbitrator. The High Court's decision directed the CPWD to conduct a valuation of the properties as per the Arbitrator's earlier order, facilitating the continuation of the highway construction.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 800290 (HC-MISC)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 28-09-2023
• Assessment Year: misc
• Laws Referred To: National Highways Act, 1996
• Result in Favour of: Others
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: SC NHIDC
• Assessee Lawyers: P D NAIR; A J SARMA; G ALAM
• Keywords: Arbitration; Interim order; Land Acquisition; Valuation of property; National Highway-29; 4-Lane Highway
• Section: 3G

Judgement Text

"Page No.# 1/5 GAHC010221202023 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WA/375/2023 ILABATI DEB AND 3 ORS. W/O LATE SADHAN CHANDRA DEB, R/O VILL- HOWRAGHAT TINIALI, MOUZA- LANGPHER, P.O.-KACHUPUKHURI, P.S.-HOWRAGHAT, DIST.- KARBI ANGLONG, ASSAM, PIN- 782482. 2: SUDHAMA DEB S/O LATE SADHAN CHANDRA DEB R/O VILL- HOWRAGHAT TINIALI MOUZA-LANGPHER P.O.-KACHUPUKHURI P.S.-HOWRAGHAT DIST-KARBI ANGLONG ASSAM PIN- 782482 3: HARIPAD DEB S/O LATE SADHAN CHANDRA DEB R/O VILL- HOWRAGHAT TINIALI MOUZA-LANGPHER P.O.-KACHUPUKHURI P.S.-HOWRAGHAT DIST-KARBI ANGLONG ASSAM PIN- 782482 4: SATYAJIT DEB S/O LATE SADHAN CHANDRA DEB R/O VILL- HOWRAGHAT TINIALI MOUZA-LANGPHER P.O.-KACHUPUKHURI P.S.-HOWRAGHAT DIST-KARBI ANGLONG ASSAM PIN- 78248 Page No.# 2/5 VERSUS THE UNION OF INDIA AND 12 ORS. REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT BHAWAN, 1, PARLIAMENT STREET, NEW DELHI-110001. 2:THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NHIDCL 2ND FLOOR AGNISHANTI BUSINESS PARK OPPOSITE AGP OFFICE AMBARI GUWAHATI-781001. 3:THE GENERAL MANAGER (LA AND COORD.) NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED REGIONAL OFFICE- GUWAHATI ASSAM PIN-781001. 4:THE GENERAL MANAGER (P) NATIONAL HIGHWAYS INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED PMU DIPHU PWD (IB) PWD COLONY LUMDING ROAD DIPHU PIN-782460. 5:THE STATE OF ASSAM REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY GENERAL ADMINISTRATION DEPTT. DISPUR GUWAHATI-781006. 6:THE STATE OF ASSAM REP. BY THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECREATRY TO THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPTT. ASSAM SECRETARIAT DISPUR Page No.# 3/5 GUWAHATI- 781006. 7:THE KARBI ANGLONG AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DIPHU KARBI ANGLONG ASSAM PIN-782460. 8:THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY KARBI ANGLONG AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL DIPHU KARBI ANGLONG ASSAM PIN-782460 9:THE JOINT SECRETARY CUM COMPETENT AUTHORITY FOR LAND ACQUISITION KARBI ANGLONG AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL ASSAM PIN-78246 10:THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER KARBI ANGLONG AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL ASSAM PIN-782460. 11:THE ASSISTANT SETTLEMENT OFFICER PHULONI REVENUE CIRCLE KARBI ANGLONG AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL ASSAM PIN-782460 12:THE ASSISTANT REVENUE OFFICER PHULONI REVENUE CIRCLE KARBI ANGLONG AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL ASSAM PIN-782460 13:NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN G 5 AND 6 SECTOR 10 DWARKA NEW DELHI-11007 Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. P. D. NAIR, MR. A J SARMA, MR. G. ALAM Page No.# 4/5 Advocate for the Respondent : SC, NHIDC BEFORE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE SUSMITA PHUKAN KHAUND ORDER Date : 28-09-2023 Heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties. The instant writ appeal is preferred against the order dated 18.09.2023, passed by the learned Single Judge in I.A.(C) No. 2837/2023 in WP(C) No. 5205/2023. The dispute between the parties to the instant writ appeal and the captioned writ petition is regarding valuation of the appellants’ building/house/structures standing on the plot of land, which has been acquired by the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDC) for the purpose of widening/upgrading the existing National Highway-29 to 4-Lane Highway in the District of Karbi Anglong, Assam. The construction of the Highway at the location, where the appellants’ buildings/houses are located, is held up on account of the ad-interim order dated 19.04.2023 passed by the Commissioner cum Arbitrator appointed under sub-section 5 of section 3G of the National Highways Act, 1996. By the said interim order dated 19.04.2023, the Arbitrator directed not to demolish the residential house, structure and not to uproot the trees standing on the appellant’s land. By another order dated 02.05.2023, the Arbitrator directed that the Valuation Officer, Income Tax shall assess the market value of the building/house/structures of the petitioners (appellants herein) at the rate applicable as on 03.11.2020. It may be stated herein that in the intervening period the post of Arbitrator has been abolished and, thus, the proceedings before the Arbitrator are stalled thereby construction/widening of the Highway in question has been adversely affected. In view of the peculiar facts narrated above, it is hereby directed that copy of this Page No.# 5/5 order shall be presented to the Valuation Officer, Central Public Works Department (CPWD). Copy of this order be provided to the competent authority in the CPWD within two days, whereupon the CPWD authority shall appoint a suitable date for the valuation of the property within the next five days. The valuation shall be carried out in terms of the order dated 02.05.2023, passed by the Arbitrator. The appellants herein and the representative(s) of the NHIDCL may remain present and shall be permitted to append their signatory during the measurement as well as in the valuation proceedings. The ad-interim stay order dated 19.04.2023 passed by the Arbitrator shall stand vacated after the valuation report is prepared and presented in the arbitration proceedings. Writ appeal stands disposed of in terms of the above observations and directions. JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE Comparing Assistant "