Bombay High Court
SATYAJEET UDAY SHISODEversusTHE UNION OF INDIA THROUGH DEPUTY SECRETARY AND OTHERS
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The writ petition is allowed; the competent authority must compute and pay solatium and interest in accordance with the Tarsem Singh principles.
Summary
Satyajeet Uday Shisode filed a writ petition seeking solatium and interest on compensation for land acquired under the National Highways Act. The petition relied on the Supreme Court’s directions in Union of India v. Tarsem Singh, which outline entitlement to such additional amounts for landowners alive on or after 28‑03‑2008. The High Court noted that the issues were covered by its earlier decision in Writ Petition No. 13783 of 2025 and applied the Tarsem Singh principles. It ordered the competent authority to compute and pay the solatium and interest within six months, subject to verification of documents and possible challenges under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The Court also clarified that aggrieved parties may approach an arbitrator under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956 for disputes over the quantum of compensation.
Issues considered
- What entitlement do landowners have to solatium and interest on compensation under the National Highways Act in light of the Tarsem Singh judgment?
- Whether the Supreme Court’s directions in Tarsem Singh are binding on the competent authority for calculating additional compensation?
- Which procedural remedies are available to aggrieved parties for disputes over the computed amount?
Legislation cited
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — s. 34, 37
- National Highways Act, 1956 — s. 3G(5)
Subjects
- land acquisition
- solatium
- interest on compensation
- National Highways Act
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act
- writ petition
- Supreme Court directions
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:44545-DB
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
WRIT PETITION NO. 3392 OF 2026
SATYAJEET UDAY SHISODE
VERSUS
THE UNION OF INDIA THROUGH DEPUTY SECRETARY AND OTHERS
...
Mr. Sakshi Kale, Advocate a/w Mr. S. B. Bhalerao, Advocate h/f Mr.
Shivam Sunil Agrawal, Advocate For The Petitioner
Mr. V. M. Kagne, Agp For Respondents/State
Mr. U. B. Bondar, Advocate For Respondent Nos.1 And 3
Mr. Deepak S. Manorkar, Advocate a/w Mr. Deshbhushan Madkar,
Advocate For Respondent No.4
...
CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND
ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
DATE : 23rd SEPTEMBER, 2026
PER COURT :
1. Indisputably, the issue raised in this petition 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 Others Vs. Tarsem Singh and Others
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
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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 :
ORDER
a) The writ 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.
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(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 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
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.)
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