Karnatak High Court Observed That It Has Become Habit Of NHAI To Burden The Courts With Cases

Karnatak High Court Observed That It Has Become Habit Of NHAI To Burden The Courts With Cases

The Kerala High Court has criticized the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in one of its judgments. The High Court observed that it has become a habit of the Authority to burden the courts with litigations and delay in payment of compensation leads to payment of heavy interest.

In its order, the division bench of Justice Amit Rawal and Justice CS Sudha said that if NHAI takes proper advice, it will avoid the cost of litigation and the burden of paying heavy interest. This can have a big impact in saving the country’s economy.

The bench’s order came on an appeal filed by a Thiruvananthapuram-based land owner. The property of the petitioner was acquired by the NHAI to build a bypass to avoid the Kazhakootam-Karode section of NH 47. Dissatisfied with the compensation decided by the competent authority, the land owner sought arbitration during which the value of the land was increased by 50 per cent.

Claiming that the amount is excessive, NHAI approached a local court in Thiruvananthapuram. The local court quashed the arbitration order. After this the land owner appealed in the High Court.