Name officials responsible for delay in compensation to landowners: HC to HUDA

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed chief administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to submit names of officials responsible for delay in disbursal of compensation for land acquired by the authority for the development of urban estates across state.

The order was passed by high court bench of justice Rajesh Bindal and justice HS Sidhu after it came to light that the authority was to disburse ₹1,400 crore by November 22 but it could only transfer ₹700 crore as compensation and every day it is losing ₹16 crore on account of delay in disbursal.

“..The job, which otherwise the officers should have performed, the court is being compelled to monitor the same. The court is dealing with the matter only for the reason that the land of various landowners had been acquired by the state long back and they are still being deprived of the compensation,” the HC bench said asking chief administrator to file as to who should be burdened with liability of interest for non-payment of compensation to the landowners, despite the fact that thousands of crores of rupees are lying in the account of HUDA, taken as loan from various banks.

Earlier, additional advocate general, Haryana, Ankur Mittal had told the court that if compensation gets delayed from the scheduled date, state has to pay 15% interest on it to the landowner.

“On account of this, the state is losing ₹16 crore every day,” he had told court, adding that now liability of HUDA is likely to be increased to ₹8,750 from the current liability of ₹4,000 crore as SC has recently decided on relief to be paid to Gurgaon landowners within four months.

The court had observed that due to inefficacy of some officers the state would continue to incur liability to pay interest on account of delay in disbursement of compensation to the landowners.