7. The Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001 itself gives a solution for this dispute. Section 21 of the Act states that where several persons are claiming to be interested in the compensation amount, it will be left open to the District Collector to determine the person in whose favour the compensation amount must be paid. If the District Collector is not in a position to take a decision, he can always refer such dispute for the decision of a competent civil Court. Hence, at the relevant point of time, notice shall be served both on the petitioner as well as the third parties in whose names the revenue records stand. If the District Collector is not able to take a decision with respect to the apportionment of compensation due to serious dispute in title, it will be left open to the District Collector to refer the dispute to the Civil Court. Thus, the claim for compensation can be properly adjudicated at the relevant point of time. This will sufficiently take care of the interest of the petitioner as well as the rival claimants. Except giving this clarity, no further orders can be passed in this Writ Petition.
