Bombay High Court
RAJESH CHANDRAMAL GALANI THROUGH GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY HOLDER RAJENDRA WALCHAND SHINDEversusTHE NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF INDIA THROUGH ITS PROJECT DIRECTOR AND ANOTHER
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The petition is allowed, directing the competent authority to compute and pay solatium and interest in accordance with the Tarsem Singh principles.
Summary
The petitioner, Rajesh Chandramal Galani, filed a writ petition seeking solatium and interest on compensation for land acquired by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The High Court examined the Supreme Court’s decision in Union of India v. Tarsem Singh, which laid down criteria for entitlement to interest and solatium for landowners whose claims were alive after 28 March 2008. Relying on that precedent and a recent review petition order, the Court held that the petitioner is entitled to such additional amounts. It directed the competent authority to compute and pay the solatium and interest within six months, subject to verification of documents. The Court also clarified that any aggrieved party may challenge the quantum under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956 or under Sections 34 and 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to solatium and interest on compensation under the principles laid down in Union of India v. Tarsem Singh
- Whether the entitlement depends on the claim being alive on or after 28 March 2008
- What is the appropriate forum for challenging the quantum of compensation – Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act or arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act
Legislation cited
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — s. 34, 37
- National Highways Act, 1956 — s. 3G(5)
Subjects
- land acquisition
- solatium
- interest
- compensation
- National Highways Act
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act
- writ petition
- NHAI
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:30104-DB
1 1041(viii).WP1762-2023.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
WRIT PETITION NO. 1762 OF 2023
RAJESH CHANDRAMAL GALANI THROUGH GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
HOLDER RAJENDRA WALCHAND SHINDE
VS.
THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF INDIA THROUGH ITS PROJECT
DIRECTOR AND ANOTHER
...
Advocate for the Petitioner : Mr. Patil Vijay Bhalerao
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. Mr. Manorkar Deepak S. a/w. Mr. D.P. Madkar
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Bondar U.B.
…
CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND
ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
DATE : 02.07.2026
PER COURT :
. A copy of the decision of 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 been placed on record. A perusal of the said order, reveals that the
Review Petition is disposed of by issuing 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
2 1041(viii).WP1762-2023.doc
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'.”
2. Undisputedly, the issue raised in this petition and the prayers
made therein 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 Singh and Ors. reported in 2019 (9) SCC 304. Hence, we
pass the following order :
ORDER
a) In the light of above, the petition is allowed by directing
the competent authorities to compute and pay to the
petitioner 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 petitioner shall assist the
competent authorities by producing all relevant documents
and upon verification of the same, the competent
3 1041(viii).WP1762-2023.doc
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.
3. As observed by this Court in clause ‘C’(supra), if any party has
any objection in respect of the calculation of the compensation 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. )
vsj..
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