Nurpur: 2 years on, ex-serviceman’s wife awaits compensation

Rajiv Mahajan

Nurpur, February 27

The Bhumi Adhigrahan Manch is up in arms against the non-payment of the building compensation to an ex-serviceman’s wife by the Competent Authority Land Acquisition (SDM, Jawali) in Kangra district. State president of the manch BR Kaundal said that they would take up the issue of the plight of the woman with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and seek action against the erring officials.

Kaundal said that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had assessed a compensation of Rs 64.14 lakh for five shops and a house of Raksha Devi, wife of an ex-serviceman, at Balah-Bhedkhud village.

The properties were to be acquired for the widening of a national highway and the competent authority had awarded compensation in March, 2022. Government officials were allegedly harassing her now, he added.

“Once the compensation award is announced, the CALA has no official power to withhold the compensation. If there is any dispute about the apportionment of compensation amount among the co-sharers, the CALA has to refer that case to an appropriate authority (Additional District Judicial Magistrate). In the present case, the title of the structural property is undisputed in favor of Raksha Devi and holding her awarded compensation is illegal and unethical,” Kaundal said.

Kaundal, who is a retired HAS officer, said awarded compensation had to be released to the party within one month as per section 64 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Act (2013). However, in this case, a government official was allegedly exceeding his jurisdiction on flimsy ground due to reasons best known to him. The aggrieved woman had purchased a piece of land at the village in October, 2013, and constructed five shops and a house on it, he added.

“She had got compensation for the land on which she had raised the structure from the CALA. Her structure compensation has not been released for the past two years. Now, after running from pillar to post, the woman recently submitted her complaint to the state Lokayukta threatening to commit suicide with her two children on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway where the construction of NHAI’s road-widening project is in progress,” Kaundal said.

He appealed to the Kangra Deputy Commissioner to intervene and provide justice to Raksha Devi by getting her the compensation that was awarded two years ago.

NHAI acquired House, five shops

• The NHAI had assessed a compensation of Rs 64.14 lakh for five shops and a house of Raksha Devi, wife of an ex-serviceman, at Balah-Bhedkhud village
• The properties were to be acquired for the widening of a national highway and the competent authority had awarded compensation in March 2022
• The compensation has to be released to the party within one month, as per Section 64 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Act (2013)