Amar Singh Vs Union of India — Punjab & Haryana HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Amar Singh Vs Union of India — Punjab & Haryana HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Respondents No.2 and 3 directed to resolve the pending compensation-release issue within 04 weeks after granting the petitioners an opportunity of hearing, and to disburse the compensation with statutory benefits and upto date interest within 04 weeks thereafter if entitlement is found; on non-compliance, petitioners may seek revival of the writ petition and respondents No.2 and 3 shall pay litigation costs of Rs.50,000/- to each petitioner, borne by the officers concerned and not the State exchequer; Registry to serve copy of the order on respondents No.2 and 3 with immediate effect.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners are entitled to release/disbursement of compensation, with statutory benefits and upto date interest, for their 11 marlas of land forming part of khasra no.156, Village Chamrauli, Tehsil Anandpur Sahib, District Rupnagar, acquired for NH-21, the claim being pending consideration with respondents No.2 and 3.

Court's answer

Respondents No.2 and 3 are directed to resolve the pending issue of release of compensation for the petitioners' 11 marlas (khasra no.156, Village Chamrauli) within 04 weeks from today after granting an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners; and if the petitioners are found entitled, the compensation amount is to be disbursed to them along with statutory benefits and upto date interest within 04 weeks thereafter.

Ratio / Principle

In case respondents No.2 and 3 fail to comply with the aforesaid order, the petitioners shall be at liberty to seek revival of the present writ petition, and respondents No.2 and 3 shall be liable to pay litigation costs of Rs.50,000/- to each of the petitioners, such costs to be borne by the officers concerned and not treated as a burden on the State exchequer.

Key takeaways

The Registry is directed to serve a copy of the order upon respondents No.2 and 3 with immediate effect.obiter¶29

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ petition (CWP-7383-2026 O&M, decided 17.04.2026, Harkesh Manuja J.) disposed of with directions: petitioners' 11 marlas forming part of khasra no.156, Village Chamrauli, Tehsil Anandpur Sahib, District Rupnagar, acquired and utilized for four-laning/maintenance/operation of NH-21 (Km.73.200-Km.82.000, Kiratpur-Bilaspur Section), though missing from the notification under Section 3A of the National Highway Act, 1956, formed part of Award No.1 dated 15.03.2022; compensation assessed but not disbursed, claim pending with respondents No.2 and 3 per inter-departmental correspondence dated 22.07.2025. Respondents No.2 and 3 directed to resolve the issue within 04 weeks after hearing the petitioners and, if entitlement is found, to disburse compensation with statutory benefits and upto date interest within 04 weeks thereafter; on failure, petitioners may seek revival and respondents No.2 and 3 shall pay litigation costs of Rs.50,000/- to each petitioner, borne by the officers concerned and not the State exchequer; Registry to serve copy of order on respondents No.2 and 3 immediately.

CWP-7383-2026 (O&M)

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237-u IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CWP-7383-2026 (O&M) Decided on:-17.04.2026

Amar Singh and others

....Petitioners.

vs.

Union of India and others

....Respondents.

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARKESH MANUJA

Present: Mr.Chander Kant Rana, Advocate, for the petitioners.

Mr.Mahender Joshi, Advocate for Mr. R.S. Madan, Advocate, for respondent-NHAI.

Mr. Gunjan Mehta, Addl. A.G., Punjab.

HARKESH MANUJA J. (Oral)

The short grievance raised on behalf of the petitioners is that their 11 marlas of land forming part of khasra no.156, situated in the revenue estate of Village Chamrauli, Tehsil Anandpur, District Rupnagar was acquired and utilized for building (widening/four laning etc.), maintenance, management and operation of National Highway No.21 on the stretch of land from Km.73.200 to existing Km. 82.000 at Punjab/Himachal Pradesh Border (Kiratpur-Bilaspur Section Chandigarh-Kharar Section) in District Rupnagar in the State of Punjab.

Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that though the said land was missing in the notification issued under Section 3A of the National

SONIKA 2026.04.23 11:22 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

CWP-7383-2026 (O&M)

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Highway Act, 1956, however, the same formed part of the Award No.1 dated 15.03.2022. He further submits that though the award with respect to the aforementioned land was already passed, however, the amount of compensation assessed, was not disbursed in favour of the petitioners so far. Learned counsel refers to inter-departmental correspondence dated 22.07.2025 between respondents No.2 and 3, to contend that the claim of the petitioners with respect to releasing of the amount was pending consideration with the authorities, yet, no decision has been taken so far.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and gone through the paper book.

In view of the present facts and circumstances, since the issue of release of compensation in favour of the petitioners with respect to 11 marlas of their land forming part of khasra no.156, situated in village Chamrauli, Tehsil Anandpur Sahib, District Rupnagar, is pending consideration with respondents No.2 and 3, thus, both the authorities are directed to resolve the issue within 04 weeks from today after granting an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners. In case, the petitioners are found entitled for release of the compensation amount, the same be disbursed to them along with statutory benefits and upto date interest within 04 weeks thereafter.

4.1 It is made clear that in case, respondents No.2 and 3 fail to comply with the aforesaid order, the petitioners shall be at liberty to seek revival of the present writ petition and in that eventuality, respondents No.2 and 3 shall be liable to pay litigation costs of Rs.50,000/- to each of the petitioners. The said costs shall be borne by the officers concerned and shall

not be treated as a burden on the State exchequer. The Registry is directed to

SONIKA 2026.04.23 11:22 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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CWP-7383-2026 (O&M)

serve a copy of this order upon respondents No.2 and 3 with immediate effect.

Accordingly, the present petition stands disposed of.

Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, shall also stand

disposed of.

17.04.2026 (HARKESH MANUJA) sonika JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/No

SONIKA 2026.04.23 11:22 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document