Give land for NHAI projects in Punjab in 2 weeks: High Court

Tribune News Service

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Ludhiana, August 29

Even as the state government had pulled all stops to ensure over 85 per cent possession of land acquired for the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the government to provide land for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects in the state within two weeks.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Kuldeep Tiwari has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to provide all assistance to ensure the most expeditious encumbrance-free delivery of possession over all acquired tracts of land. On the prayer of the state counsel, the HC, on August 23, granted two weeks to comply with the order dated August 9.

“Therefore, the state is directed to file an affidavit to be sworn by the Chief Secretary to the Government of Punjab, qua the imperative fact appertaining to all roads which are under construction or are to constructed within the state of Punjab, by the NHAI, thus encumbrance-free possession thereof, stands delivered to the NHAI,” the order reads.

It further said, “In case there is any obstruction on part of any aggrieved person qua assumption of encumbrance-free possession by the NHAI, thereupon, the DGP is directed to provide all logistic assistance, as deemed necessary, to ensure that the most expeditious encumbrance-free delivery of possession over all acquired tracts of land, thus becomes released to the NHAI.”

The HC has also asked the DGP to file a compliance affidavit on the next date of hearing on September 6.

On August 9, the court had sought an affidavit from the Chief Secretary on the actions taken on the directions passed by it in the verdict pronounced on October 18, 2023.

“Though this court has closed the civil writ petition through a verdict pronounced on October 18, 2023, but numerous directions were detailed in the said verdict. The said directions are carried in para 35 thereof. However, the same remain uncomplied,” the HC had said.