Bombay High Court
KEDARNATH GANGADHAR BADHANversusTHE UNION OF INDIA THR THE DEPUTY SECRETARY AND ORS
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The petitioners are entitled to solatium and interest as per the Supreme Court’s directions, and the competent authorities must compute and pay the amounts within six months.
Summary
The petitioners, landowners whose lands were acquired for national highways, filed writ petitions seeking the payment of solatium and interest on their compensation. The High Court referred to its earlier decision in Writ Petition No. 13783 of 2025 and to the Supreme Court’s directions in Union of India v. Tarsem Singh (2019 9 SCC 304) and the review petition National Highways Authority of India v. Tarsem Singh (Civil) No. 2528 of 2025. The Supreme Court had clarified that landowners alive on or after 28‑03‑2008 could claim interest, solatium and interest on solatium, subject to when the claim was made. Applying those principles, the Court ordered the competent authorities to compute and pay the petitioners the entitled solatium and interest within six months, subject to verification of documents and any challenges under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. It also indicated that aggrieved parties could approach an arbitrator under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956 for disputes over the quantum of compensation.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioners are entitled to solatium and interest on compensation for land acquired under the National Highways Act.
- Whether the Supreme Court’s directions in Union of India v. Tarsem Singh and the review petition apply to the present claims.
- Whether the petitioners can seek reopening or modification of compensation decisions concluded before 28‑03‑2008.
Legislation cited
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — s. 34, 37
- National Highways Act, 1956 — s. 3G(5)
Subjects
- solatium
- interest
- compensation
- land acquisition
- National Highways Act
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act
- Supreme Court directions
- writ petition
- compensation calculation
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:42636-DB
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
39 WRIT PETITION NO. 12015 OF 2026
Kedarnath Gangadhar Badhan & Others
VERSUS
The Union Of India And Others
...
Mr. Dipesh Pande, Advocate for the Petitioner
Mrs. Saie Joshi, AGP for the State
Mr. U.B. Bondar, Advocate for Respondents No. 1 and 3
69 WRIT PETITION NO. 12103 OF 2026
Mangesh Sudhakar Tambe And Others
VERSUS
The Union Of India And Others
Mr. Dipesh Pande, Advocate for the Petitioner
Ms. Neha Kamble, AGP for the State
Mr. U.B. Bondar, Advocate for Respondents No. 1 and 3
.......
CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND
ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
DATE : 15th SEPTEMBER, 2026
PER COURT :
1. Indisputably, the issue raised in these petitions and the prayers
made are squarely covered by the decision of the Co-ordinate Bench of
this Court in Writ Petition No. 13783 of 2025 in the case of Prakash
Dayaram Patil Devre vs. The Competent Authority Land Acquisition and
Another and connected matters therein and in view of the principles
enunciated in the case of Union of India (UOI) and Ors. Vs. Tarsem
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Singh and Ors. reported in 2019 (9) SCC 304.
2. The Hon’ble Apex Court in the Review Petition filed in the matter
of National Highways Authority of India vs. Tarsem Singh and others in
Review Petition (Civil) No. 2528 of 2025 has issued following
directions:
“ 14. Considering the facts and circumstances explained in the
instant proceedings along with the various submissions placed
on record and with a view to balancing the equities regarding
delay and the entitlements of the landowners, we issue the
following directions:
(i) All landowners whose claims re: the quantum and/or
components of compensation for their lands acquired under the
NH Act were alive on or after 28.03.2008, i.e., they were
pending before one of the prescribed fora, shall be entitled to
seek addition of 'interest', 'solatium', and 'interest on the
solatium' to their compensation claim;
(ii) In the cases where compensation claims are alive on the
aforesaid date, but the landowner has claimed "interest'".
'solatium', and 'interest on solatium' after 28.03.2008, no
interest on both components shall be payable for the period of
delay. Such landowner shall be entitled to 'Interest' and 'Interest
on solatium' only from the date on which such claims were
raised; and
(iii) If the claims of the landowners stood concluded prior to
28.03.2008, with no further appeal, Writ Petition, Special Leave
Petition, etc., then such landowners are not entitled to seek
reopening, review, or modification of the said decision for the
purpose of claiming 'solatium' or 'interest'.”
3. Hence, we pass the following order :
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ORDER
(a) The writ petitions are allowed by directing the competent
authorities to compute and pay to the petitioners solatium
and interest in accordance with the principles enunciated in
the case of Union of India and another Vs. Tarsem Singh and
others (Supra) within a period of six (6) months from today.
(b) It is made clear that the petitioners shall assist the
competent authorities by producing all relevant documents
and upon verification of the same, the competent authorities
shall proceed further. It is also clarified that payments made
pursuant to the directions given herein above, shall be
subject to the challenges, if any, raised under Sections 34
and 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
(c) In the light of the observations made herein above, it is
further made clear that if any of the parties are aggrieved by
the quantum and computation carried out by the competent
authority while carrying out the directions given herein
above, the remedy of Section 3G (5) of the National
Highways Act, 1956 would be available to such aggrieved
party in accordance with law. It is further made clear that the
competent Authority while implementing the directions given
herein above shall give reasonable hearing to all stake
holders.
4. As observed by this Court in clause ‘c’ (supra), if any party has
any objection in respect of the calculation of the compensation
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amount, they are at liberty to approach Arbitrator under Section 3G
(5) of the National Highways Act.
(ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J.) (NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J.)
Bhagyawant Punde
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