HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Friday fumed at the state government for delaying payment of compensation for lands acquired by it towards several projects.
A division bench comprising Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice K. Lakshman took exception to the fact that compensation was not paid for lands acquired in 2003 for the Jurala project in Mahabubnagar district.
Critical of the two-decade delay, the bench asked the government if it would take centuries to clear dues to landowners.
The bench was dealing with contempt cases filed by some landowners, whose land was acquired in 2003 and award was decided in 2010. The land owners had approached the district court for enhancement of the Award amount, where they got a favourable order. However, challenging the district court orders, the government filed first appeal before the High Court seeking to stay the enhancement.
The High Court had directed the government to deposit 50 per cent of the amount due to the landowners, with an option to let the landowners to take compensation from the deposits. However, despite the orders issued by the High Court around a year and half back, the government has not deposited the 50 per cent amount following which the landowners filed a contempt case.
The court directed deposit of Rs 4 crore within two weeks, lest authorities face dire consequences.
