Pandurangan v. The District Collector

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 02-03-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE and W.M.P. No.7048 of 2026 Pandurangan S/o Gurumurthi 12/21, Veerakuttai Theru, Thiruvannamalai 606 601.

..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The District Collector Thiruvannamalai District, Thriuvannamalai.

2. The Special District Revenue officer, national Highways, Villupuram.

3. The Special Tahsildar, (Land Acquisition) national Highways, Land Acquisition Schemes, Thiruvannamalai.

4. The Project Director, National Highways authority of India, No 24 1st Floor, V.G.P. Nagar, Vazhudhareddy, Villupuram.

..Respondent(s) PRAYER - This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking for a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the first respondent in Rc.No.M1/112/2016 dated 06.07.202, quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to forthwith pay enhanced compensation of the acquisition of land of the petitioner in Plot Nos. 265 and 266 of the extent of 978 and 968 Square feet, in Survey Numbers 26/1, New Survey number 35/1 Keezhanikarai, Tiruvannamalai District along with solatium and interest on the additional compensation and Solatium form the

date of taking possession of the lands of the petitioner. For Petitioner(s):

Mr.P. Srinivas For Respondent(s):

Mr.D.Ravichander, Special Government Pleader (for R1 to R3) Mrs.S.R.Sumathy, Standing Counsel (for R4)

O R D E R

This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the impugned award dated 06.07.2020. In the impugned award, compensation has been determined by the respondents for the property morefully described in the prayer to this Writ Petition which was acquired by the respondents under the National Highways Act, 1956.

2.The learned counsel for the petitioner fairly submits that the limitation period for challenging the impugned award under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 has already got expired. However, he would submit that the grievance in this Writ Petition is that the entire compensation amount as determined under the impugned award dated 06.07.2020 has not been paid to the petitioner. The petitioner had given a representation on 03.03.2025 to the respondents requesting them to pay the balance amount due to the petitioner as per the impugned award dated 06.07.2020 passed by the 1st respondent. Since the said representation was not considered by the respondents, the petitioner has

filed this Writ Petition challenging the impugned award dated 06.07.2020. 3.Mr.D.Ravichander, learned Special Government Pleader takes notice for the respondents 1 to 3 and Mrs.S.R.Sumathy, learned Standing Counsel takes notice for the 4th respondent.

4.Learned Standing Counsel appearing for the 4th respondent seeks time to get instructions as to whether the amount determined by the 1st respondent under the impugned award dated 06.07.2020 was deposited by the 4th respondent before the appropriate Civil Court or not. 5.The petitioner claims that he has already received part of the amount pursuant to the passing of the impugned award dated 06.07.2020 and his grievance is that the balance amount is yet to be paid. This Court is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner's representation. 6.However, this Court is of the considered view, after recording the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner has not challenged the impugned award dated 06.07.2020 passed by the 1st respondent, since the time limit prescribed under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 has already got expired, no prejudice would be caused to the respondents if the petitioner's representation requesting the

respondents to pay the balance amount due and payable to the petitioner under the impugned award is considered on merits and in accordance with law, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

7.For the foregoing reasons, this Writ Petition is liable to be disposed of by directing the 3rd respondent to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law on the petitioner's representation dated 03.03.2025 seeking for payment of the balance amounts as per the impugned award dated 06.07.2020 passed by the 1st respondent on merits and in accordance with law within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. However, it is made clear that since the time limit prescribed under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 for challenging the impugned award dated 06.07.2020 has already got over, the petitioner is not entitled to challenge the same under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

8.Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

02-03-2026 Index: Yes/No GSA

To

1. The District Collector Thiruvannamalai District, Thriuvannamalai.

2. The Special District Revenue officer, national Highways, Villupuram.

3. The Special Tahsildar, (Land Acquisition) national Highways, Land Acquisition Schemes, Thiruvannamalai.

4. The Project Director, National Highways authority of India, No 24 1st Floor, V.G.P. Nagar, Vazhudhareddy, Villupuram.

ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J.

GSA and W.M.P. No.7048 of 2026 02-03-2026