Patna High Court
Chandrawati DeviversusThe Union of India
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
The court directed the District Land Acquisition Officer to look into the matter and ensure that the compensation case is taken to its logical conclusion at the earliest.
Summary
The petitioners, a family of landowners in Siwan, filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the District Land Acquisition Officer to pay compensation awarded for their house and land acquired for the construction of NH‑227A, and to pay interest for the delay. They alleged that although a notice was issued, no further steps were taken to disburse the compensation. The respondents, including the Union of India, NHAI, and the State of Bihar, argued that the matter would be concluded soon. The court examined whether the petitioner was entitled to a writ directing payment of compensation and interest. It held that the District Land Acquisition Officer must look into the matter and ensure that the compensation case is concluded at the earliest. Accordingly, the writ petition was disposed with directions to the officer to expedite the compensation process.
Issues considered
- Whether a writ of mandamus can be issued directing the District Land Acquisition Officer to pay the awarded compensation for land and house acquisition.
- Whether interest on delayed compensation payment can be mandated by the court.
Subjects
- Land acquisition
- Compensation
- Mandamus
- Interest on delayed payment
- National Highway Authority of India
- Writ petition
- Delay
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.1285 of 2026
======================================================
1. Chandrawati Devi W/o of Vidhyanath Tiwari, R/o village Jangal Bilas, P.O.-
Karnapura, P.S. - G.B. Nagar, Tarwara, District- Siwan.
2. Sawami Nath Tiwari, S/o Late Vidhyanath Tiwari R/o village Jangal Bilas,
P.O.- Karnapura, P.S. - G.B. Nagar, Tarwara, District- Siwan.
3. Shambhu Nath Tiwari, S/o Late Vidhyanath Tiwari R/o village Jangal Bilas,
P.O.- Karnapura, P.S. - G.B. Nagar, Tarwara, District- Siwan.
4. Prabhu Nath Tiwari, S/o Late Vidhyanath Tiwari R/o village Jangal Bilas,
P.O.- Karnapura, P.S. - G.B. Nagar, Tarwara, District- Siwan.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The Union of India Through The Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport And
Highways, Government of India, New Delhi.
2. The Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport And Highways, Government of
India, New Delhi.
3. The National Highway Authority of India, Through its Chairman-Cum-
Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Government
of India, New Delhi.
4. The Project Director, National Highway Authority of India, Patna.
5. The State of Bihar, through Principal Secretary, Land and Revenue
Department, Government of Bihar, Patna.
6. The Principal Secretary, Land and Revenue Department, Government of
Bihar, Patna.
7. The District Magistrate, Siwan.
8. The District Land Acquisition Officer, District Siwan.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Chandra Kant, Adv.
Mr. Sudhanshu Prakash, Adv.
Mr. Navin Kumar, Adv.
Ms. Sristi Kumari, Adv.
Ms. Karnika, Adv.
For the Respondent/s : Mr. G.P. Ojha, GA-7
For NHAI : Mr. Sriram Krishna, Adv.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
2 29-01-2026 Heard Mr. Chandra Kant, learned counsel for the
petitioner and Mr. G.P. Ojha, learned GA7 besides Mr. Sriram
Patna High Court CWJC No.1285 of 2026(2) dt.29-01-2026
2/3
Krishna for NHAI.
2. The present application has been preferred for the
following relief(s):
(i) For issuance of writ of
mandamus directing respondent no 8 to pay
the compensation amount as per the award
no 46 (house) and 52 (Land) to the petitioner
for the house/structure which has been
acquired by the respondents for construction
of Ram Janki road NH -227A, holding that
after payment of compensation to land
respondents can not delay payment of
structure/house.
(ii) For issuance of writ of
mandamus directing respondents to pay
interest on the delay payment of award
amount to the petitioner.
(iii) For issuance of any other
appropriate writ\writs, order orders,
direction directions, for which petitioner may
deemed entitled under the fact and
circumstance of the case.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner straightaway
took this Court to Annexure-5 to submit that though the office of
the District Land Acquisition Officer, Siwan issued notice with
regard to the land in question, no further steps have been taken
and the petitioners are waiting for the compensation.
Patna High Court CWJC No.1285 of 2026(2) dt.29-01-2026
3/3
4. Learned GA-7, Mr. Ojha submits that the
respondent no. 8, the District Land Acquisition Officer, Siwan
shall be taking the matter to its logical conclusion at an earliest.
5. Accepting the words put forward by Mr. Ojha, the
writ petition is disposed of directing the respondent no. 8, the
District Land Acquisition Officer, Siwan to look into the matter
and ensure that the case relating to the petitioner’s land is taken
to its logical conclusion at an earliest.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
Vijay Singh/-
U
Checking your session…