Tikkana Demudu v. the Union of India

Andhra Pradesh HC23 Dec 2025WP/13443/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

NHAI compensation non-payment writ closed after payment; National Highways Act 1956; Articles 14, 21, 300-A; Article 226 mandamus; land acquisition compensation disbursed during pendency; liberty to private claimants (respondents 7 to 9) to challenge disbursement before appropriate forum; Vizianagaram; Kothavalasa Mandal; Datti Village; Thotapalli Barrage Project Unit; no costs; interlocutory applications closed.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition closed (compensation having been paid during pendency); respondents 7 to 9 permitted to file appropriate proceedings before the appropriate forum in accordance with law; no order as to costs; pending interlocutory applications, if any, closed. ¶¶39

Tikkana Demudu Vs the Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the action of respondents 2 to 5 in not paying compensation to the petitioners for laying the National Highway and interchange through their lands in Datti Village, Kothavalasa Mandal, Vizianagaram District was illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 21 and 300-A of the Constitution and of the National Highways Act, 1956. +1 more

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Court's answer

As compensation had been paid to the petitioners during pendency and nothing survived in the Writ Petition to adjudicate further, the Court closed the Writ Petition.

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Ratio / Principle

Permission is accorded to the respondents 7 to 9 to file appropriate proceedings.

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Key takeaways

The appropriate proceedings open to respondents 7 to 9 are to be pursued before the appropriate forum in accordance with law.ratio¶¶41
There shall be no order as to costs.obiter¶¶41
As a sequel, interlocutory applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.obiter¶¶42

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Andhra Pradesh High Court at Amaravati (Single Judge: Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao, J.), Writ Petition No.13443 of 2023, decided 24.12.2025. Three farmers of Appannapalem Village, Kothavalasa Mandal, Vizianagaram District sought a mandamus declaring illegal and arbitrary the failure of respondents 2 to 5 (NHAI and revenue authorities) to pay compensation for their lands — Ac.0.87 cents in Sy.No.1/1, Ac.0.98 cents in Sy.No.1/2 and Ac.0.69 cents in Sy.No.1/3 of Datti Village — laid with National Highway and interchange, alleging violation of Articles 14, 21 and 300-A of the Constitution and of the National Highways Act, 1956. During pendency the respondent authorities paid the compensation, leaving nothing to adjudicate; the Court accordingly closed the writ petition, accorded permission to private respondents 7 to 9 to file appropriate proceedings against the disbursement of compensation before the appropriate forum in accordance with law, made no order as to costs, and closed pending interlocutory applications.

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[3330]

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APHC010252892023

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)

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WEDNESDAY, THE TWENTY FOURTH DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO

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WRIT PETITION No.13443 of 2023

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Between:

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TIKKANA DEMUDU, S/O LATE RAMULU, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, OCC.FARMER, R/O APPANNAPALEM VILLAGE, KOTHAVALASA MANDAL, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT.

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TIKKANA CHINA DEMUDU,, S/O LATE SANYASI, AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, OCC.FARMER, R/O APPANNAPALEM VILLAGE, KOTHAVALASA MANDAL, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT.

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TIKKANA ABADDAM,, S/O LATE RAMULU, AGED ABOUT 43_YEARS, OCC.FARMER, R/O APPANNAPALEM VILLAGE, KOTHAVALASA MANDAL, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT.

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...PETITIONER(S)

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AND

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1. THE UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF ROAD, TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS, REPRESENTED BY JOINT SECRETARY, TRANSPORT BHAWAN,1, PARLIAMENT STREET, NEW DELHI-110001.

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THE NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN, G-5AND6, SECTOR-20, DWARKA, NEW DELHI-75.

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THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT,VIZIANAGARAM, HANUMANTHAVAKA, VISAKHAPATNAM, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT-530040.

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THE SPECIAL DEPUTY COLLECTOR, THOTAPALLI BARRIAGE PROJECT UNIT-1, PARVATHIPURAM, PARVATIPURAM MANYAM DISTRICT.

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THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER CUMCOMPETENT AUTHORITY, VIZIANAGARAM DIVISION, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT.

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THE TAHASILDAR, KOTHAVALASA MANDAL, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT.

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TIKKANA BANGARAMMA, W/O LATE PEDADEMUDU, R/O RAYARAJUPETA VILLAGE, KOTHAVALASA MANDAL, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT.

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KONA LAKSHMI, W/O RAMBABU, R/O RAYARAJUPETA VILLAGE, KOTHAVALASA MANDAL, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT.

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TIKKANA SANYASAPPADU, S/O LATE PEDA DEMUDU R/O RAYARAJUPETA VILLAGE, KOTHAVALASA MANDAL, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT.

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...RESPONDENT(S):

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Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a writ or order more particularly on in the nature of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents 2 to 5 in not paying compensation to petitioners for laying National Highway and interchange through 1st petitioner's land to an extent of Ac 0.87 cents in Sy No.1/1, 2nd petitioner's land to an extent of Ac 0.98 cents in Sy No. 1 / 2 and 1st and 3rd petitioner's land to an extent of Ac 0.69 cents in Sy No. 1 / 3 of Datti Village, Kothavalasa Mandal, Vizianagaram District is illegal, arbitrary and violative of Article 14, 21 and 300-A of Constitution of India and contrary to the provisions of The National Highways Act, 1956 and consequently direct the respondents to pay compensation.

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Counsel for the Petitioner(S):

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1.T V SRI DEVI

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Counsel for the Respondent(S):

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1.GP FOR REVENUE

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2.S S VARMA (SC FOR NHAI)

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3.G RAMA GOPAL

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The Court made the following:

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ORDER:

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The present Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the following relief:

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"….to issue a writ or order more particularly on in the nature of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents 2 to 5 in not paying compensation to petitioners for laying National Highway and interchange through 1^st petitioner's land to an extent of Ac.0.87 cents in Sy.No.1/1, 2^nd petitioner's land to an extent of Ac.0.98 cents in Sy.No.1/2 and 1^st and 3^rd petitioner's land to an extent of Ac.0.69 cents in Sy.No.1/3 of Datti Village, Kothavalasa Mandal, Vizianagaram District is illegal, arbitrary and violative of Article 14, 21 and 300-A of Constitution of India and contrary to the provisions of The National Highways Act, 1956, and consequently, direct the respondents to pay compensation and pass such other orders….."

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Learned counsel for the writ petitioners would submit that pending consideration of the Writ Petition, the respondent authorities have paid the compensation to the petitioners herein and therefore nothing survives in this Writ Petition to adjudicate further.

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Learned counsel for the respondents 7 to 9 would request this Court to grant permission to them to avail the remedy against disbursement of compensation in favour of the petitioners.

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