HC to examine plea against exclusion of below-66KV towers from compensation policy

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken cognizance of a petition challenging the State of Haryana’s notification that restricts compensation only to land used for laying transmission lines supported by towers of 66KV and above.

The Division Bench of Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Justice Vikas Suri issued notice of motion to the State of Haryana and other respondents after petitioner Anil Singh argued through counsel Prashant Lather that the classification was “illegal and discriminatory.” It was submitted that denying compensation in such cases amounts to expropriation without lawful recompense.

Taking up the matter, the Bench observed: “The counsel for the petitioner submits that while issuing notification dated July 10, the compensation has only been restricted to the transmission lines which are to be supported by a tower based of 66KV level and not below 66KV, which is arbitrary and illegal as even for transmission lines for which the towers are raised having power below 66KV, the land of land owners is being taken,” the Bench observed.

The notice issued by the Bench was accepted on the State’s behalf by Additional Advocate-General Anu Pal, who sought “some time to file reply”. The case will now come up for further hearing on January 5, next year.