The Project Director v. M. Rajeswari

2026:MHC:1550 Page1 of 7 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 15-04-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K. SURENDER WA Nos. 1506 of 2022, 1360, 1386, 1677, 2025, 2123, 2129, 2130, 2133, 2135, 2136, 2517, 2779, 2927, 2975, 2987, 2990, 2991 of 2023, 1509 of 2025 WA Nos. 1506 of 2022 The Project Director The National Highways Authority of India, (Project Implementation Unit), Door No.212 -3 / D3 -1 Sri Nagar Colony, Narasothipatti, Salem. ..Appellant(s) Vs

¶1M. Rajeswari

¶2The District Collector Namakkal District, Namakkal.

¶3The Competent Authority And District Revenue Officer, (Land Acquisition For National Highways), Namakkal Collectorate Campus, Thummankurichi Namakkal. ..Respondent(s) Writ Appeal filled under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent to set aside the order passed in WP.No. 3614 of 2021 dated 04.10.2021. For Appellant(s): Mr.V.Ashokkumar for Mr.Su.Srinivasan (in all petitions) W.A.Nos.1506 of 2022 For Respondent(s): Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R2&3 W.A.Nos.1360 of 2023 For Respondent(s): Mr.T.M.Hariharan for R1&2 Mr.D.Ravichander Page2 of 7 Special Government Pleader for R3 & 4 W.A.Nos.1509 of 2025, 2021, 2123, 2129, 2130, 2135, 2136, 2927, 2975, 2987, 2990 of 2023 For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Senthil for R1 Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R2 & 3 W.A.Nos.1386 of 2023 For Respondent(s): Mr.K.Sudhakar for R1 Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R2 W.A.Nos.1677 of 2023 For Respondent(s): Mr.N.Krishna Kumar for R1-6 Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R7 & 8 W.A.Nos.1360, 2025 of 2023 For Respondent(s): Mr.P.P.Shanmugasundaram for R1 Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R2 W.A.Nos.2133 of 2023 For Respondent(s): Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R4 & 5 W.A.Nos.2517 of 2023 For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Senthil for R1&2 Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R3 & 4 W.A.Nos.1360 of 2023 For Respondent(s): Mr.T.M.Hariharan for R1-3 Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R4 & 5 Page3 of 7 W.A.Nos.2779 of 2023 For Respondent(s): Mr.t.M.Hariharan for R1-3 Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R4&5 W.A.Nos.2991 of 2023 For Respondent(s): No appearance for R1 Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R2&3 COMMON JUDGMENT (Judgment of the Court was delivered by S.M.Subramaniam J.) The present intra-court appeals have been instituted challenging the common order passed in a batch of writ petitions claiming solatium and interest on the land acquisition compensation paid to the landowners for the acquisition of land under the provisions of the National Highways Act.

¶2Writ Petitions are allowed and the National Highways Authorities have preferred the present intra-court appeals. Page4 of 7

¶3Learned counsel for the National Highways Authority of India periodically sought for an adjournment, mainly on the ground that review petition has been filed by the National Highways Authority of India against the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case Union of India and Another Vs. Tarsem Singh and Others1. The Apex Court has now disposed of Review Petition (Civil) No.2528 of 2025 in the case of National Highways Authority of India Vs. Tarsem Singh and Others2. Conclusions and directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India are extracted hereunder: "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 1 (2019) 9 SCC 304 2 (2026) INSC 291 Page5 of 7 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'."

¶4In view of the modified orders passed by the Hon'ble Apex Court in Review Petition (Civil) No.2528 of 2025 as stated above, all the writ appeals are disposed of, directing the National Highways Authorities as well as the Land Acquisition Officer concerned/State authority shall coordinate, and work in tandem for calculation of the differential amount and settle the solatium, interest on solatium, and interest as directed by the Hon'ble Apex Court to the landowners within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions, if any, are closed. (S.M.S.,J.) (K.S.,J.) 15-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order GD Note: Registry shall type the remaining cause titles. Page6 of 7 To

¶1The District Collector Namakkal District, Namakkal.

¶2The Competent Authority And District Revenue Officer, (Land Acquisition For National Highways), Namakkal Collectorate Campus, Thummankurichi Namakkal. Page7 of 7

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J. AND

K.SURENDER, J. GD WA Nos. 1506 of 2022, 1360, 1386, 1677, 2025, 2123, 2129, 2130, 2133, 2135, 2136, 2517, 2779, 2927, 2975, 2987, 2990, 2991 of 2023, 1509 of 2025 15-04-2026