Take possession of land acquired for Sonepat toll plaza: HC to state

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the state to forthwith take the possession of land acquired for the construction of a toll plaza in Sonepat. The direction came after the Bench was told that the acquisition process was complete. Yet, the state authorities had not taken the possession of the land.

The direction by the Division Bench of Justice Mahesh Grover and Justice Rajbir Sehrawat came after an affidavit with supporting documents was filed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The case is being pursued by the Sarin Memorial Legal Aid Foundation through its secretary general-cum-senior advocate ML Sarin.

Taking a note of prayer for additional time by counsel representing the state, the Bench asserted: “We will grant the same considering the nature of issues raised in the petition affecting public interest. But while doing so, make it clear that in case the possession of the acquired land is not taken forthwith and necessary action with respect to all stake holders resulting in setting up of toll plaza not taken within a period of four weeks, District Collector, Sonepat, shall remain present in the court on the next date of hearing.” The case will now come up after summer vacations in July.

The developments took place during the hearing of a bunch of petitions by the NHAI against the Union of India and other respondents, and another petition filed in public interest by Harish Kumar Puri for streamlining the flow of traffic for avoiding accidents.

In his petition, Puri had earlier asked for the construction of rumble strips along with the traffic signals at the crossings. He had stated that his 27-year-old son Ashok Puri had died on May 14, 1996, due to a complete failure of the signal system.