Compensation for land acquisition: Court orders attachment of Mohali railway station, 2 trains
The railways had acquired the land from villagers of Kambali to construct the Mohali railway station and lay down the track of Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail line in 1999.
A local court ordered to attach Mohali railway station along with two trains including, Chandigarh-Amritsar and Ambala-Kalka passenger, after the railway ministry failed to pay a compensation of Rs 1.7 crore per acre to the residents of Kambali village in Mohali. Besides this, the court has also ordered to attach immovable that belonged to Mohali railway station.
The railways had acquired the land from villagers of Kambali to construct the Mohali railway station and lay down the track of Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail line in 1999.
The counsel for the petitioners, Naveen Behal said the order was pronounced last month on August 18.
“The attached trains can operate even after the court orders. But if the railways do not pay the enhanced compensation till next hearing on September 22, we will move application for auction of railway properties,” he added.
Railways had acquired 20 villages’ land
In 1999, railways had acquired land of 20 villages in Mohali district at an average rate of Rs 7 Lakh per acre to set up railway infrastructure in the district. The land was acquired in Ludhiana district as well. However, dissatisfied over the compensation, they moved to the district court next year, which in 2007 enhanced the compensation to Rs 17 lakh per acre.
Behal added that railways had paid villagers the enhanced compensation but the farmers were not satisfied with the local court’s order so they moved to Punjab and Haryana high court. Clubbing all enhancement petitions which were close to 500, the high court on June 1, 2016, further hiked the compensation.
“For instance, in case of Kambali village farmers, where at least 56 acres were acquired by railways, the compensation was increased to Rs 1.7 crore per acre,” said Behal while informing that while railways did not move higher court to appeal against the high court orders and the affected villagers moved district court to claim the enhanced compensation as per high court directions.
Will defend our position: Railway official
Railways’ chief administrative officer (construction) PK Sanghi said they will file a detailed affidavit before the local court on the next hearing,defending their position. He said in several cases, they have already moved the Supreme Court challenging the high court verdict that ordered the enhancement, on basis of which farmers had gone to local court.