Telangana High Court Mandates Rehabilitation for Highway Widening Displaced Families
In a significant ruling, the Telangana High Court has provided crucial relief to numerous families displaced by the Karimnagar-Warangal national highway widening project, officially designated as NH-563. The court has issued a directive requiring authorities to thoroughly evaluate and consider their claims for comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement benefits within a strict timeframe of eight weeks.
Legal Battle and Demolition Aftermath
The appellants, primarily farmers hailing from Elkathurthy in Hanumakonda district, sought judicial intervention after their homes were demolished following an earlier unfavorable legal outcome. While these families had previously received compensation for their land and the structures that stood upon it, they pursued additional entitlements under the rehabilitation and resettlement scheme outlined in the Central Land Acquisition Act of 2013.
Disposing of the appeal, a bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin delivered a landmark verdict on April 16. The bench firmly held that although the land acquisition was executed under the National Highways Act, the affected families possess a legal right to the rehabilitation and resettlement benefits stipulated by the 2013 Act.
Court's Comprehensive Directions and Relief Measures
The court's judgment included several critical directives to ensure immediate and fair treatment of the displaced families:
- The bench explicitly set aside an earlier single judge order that had directed the petitioners to approach an arbitrator. The court observed that such arbitration proceedings would only become relevant after an initial award is formally passed by the authorities.
- Acknowledging the appellants' distressing situation of being "on the road" after the sudden demolition of their houses when a previous stay order expired, the court granted them the liberty to submit fresh, detailed representations to the Revenue Divisional Officer in Hanumakonda.
- Recognizing the urgency of their plight, the court also stated that since the houses had already been demolished, the appellants are free to seek immediate directions from the relevant authorities for temporary shelter while their rehabilitation claims are under active consideration.
Legal Admissions and Path Forward
In a pivotal development during the proceedings, the National Highways Authority of India conceded that its earlier denial of these rehabilitation benefits could not withstand rigorous legal scrutiny. This admission effectively paves the way for the displaced families to legitimately seek both adequate compensation and comprehensive resettlement support, ensuring their rights are fully protected under the law.
This ruling underscores the judiciary's commitment to upholding the welfare of citizens impacted by large-scale infrastructure projects, reinforcing the legal framework that mandates proper rehabilitation alongside land acquisition.
