P.Ramathal v. The National Highway Authority of India

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 17.04.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN W.A(MD)Nos.992 to 995 of 2024 & 837 of 2024 and C.M.P(MD)Nos.7209, 7211, 7210, 7212, 6310 of 2024 W.A(MD)No.992 of 2024 P.Ramathal

PRAYER : Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the common order dated 22.02.2024 made in W.P(MD)No.4041 of 2024. For Appellant : M/s.H.Jasima Yasmin for M/s.Ajmal Associates For R1 : Mr.P.Karthick For R2 & R3 : Mr.S.P.Maharajan Special Government Pleader W.A(MD)No.993 of 2024 K.Mailsamy

PRAYER : Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the common order dated 22.02.2024 made in W.P(MD)No.4042 of 2024. For Appellant : M/s.H.Jasima Yasmin for M/s.Ajmal Associates For R1 : Mr.P.Karthick For R2 & R3 : Mr.S.P.Maharajan Special Government Pleader W.A(MD)No.994 of 2024 N.Malathi

PRAYER : Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the common order dated 22.02.2024 made in W.P(MD)No.4043 of 2024. For Appellant : M/s.H.Jasima Yasmin for M/s.Ajmal Associates For R1 : Mr.P.Karthick For R2 & R3 : Mr.S.P.Maharajan Special Government Pleader W.A(MD)No.995 of 2024 P.Sivasubramaniam

PRAYER : Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the common order dated 22.02.2024 made in W.P(MD)No.4044 of 2024. W.A(MD)No.837 of 2024 P.Kaliappan

PRAYER : Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the common order dated 22.02.2024 made in W.P(MD)No.4040 of 2024. For Appellant : M/s.H.Jasima Yasmin for M/s.Ajmal Associates For R1 : Mr.P.Karthick For R2 & R3 : Mr.S.P.Maharajan Special Government Pleader

COMMON JUDGMENT [Judgment of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) Challenging the order of the learned Single Judge dismissing the writ petitions, which were originally filed by the appellants seeking disposal of the arbitration appeals preferred by them on various dates under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956.

¶2The learned Single Judge dismissed the writ petititions taking note of the fact that the writ petitions are premature since the time for making an award is 12 months. It is now submitted by the learned counsel for the appellants that even after the lapse of two years, the applications filed by the land losers have not been disposed of.

¶3It is also stated that on an earlier occasion, an undertaking was given before this Court that orders would be passed within a period of two months. Such an undertaking was made on 11.02.2026, and nearly two months have since lapsed.

¶4In view of the above, the District Collector, Coimbatore, being the Arbitrator under the National Highways Act, is directed to dispose of the arbitration applications within a period of three months, without any further delay. While determining the compensation, the District Collector shall take into consideration the market value of the land as on the date of publication of the notification under Section 3A Notification dated 22.03.2018. Any damage, if sustained at the time of taking possession of the land, shall also be considered, in accordance with the procedure set out under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956.

¶5Such exercise shall be completed within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, after affording an opportunity to the parties to produce relevant documents.

¶6With the above directions, the writ appeals are disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. [N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.]

17.04.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No am To Doo No.567, Apj Abdul Kalam Street, W.A(MD)Nos.992etoe995e&e837eofe2024 oN.SATHISHoKUMARoo,J.o and M.JOTHIRAMAN,J. am ORDERoMADEoIN W.A(MD)Nos.992otoo995o&o837oofo2024 DATEDo:o17.04.2026