CHANDIGARH, March 3 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the Punjab government to ensure the encumbrance-free possession of land for national highway projects, particularly the Delhi-Katra Expressway, warning of action against officials failing to comply.
A Bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Kuldeep Tiwari stated that unnecessary interference must not delay infrastructure projects critical to the state’s economy. The court noted that despite the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) depositing substantial funds with SDMs and Collectors, full possession of the land had not been handed over.
Senior Advocate Chetan Mittal, representing NHAI, informed the court that while the pending land possession for 15 projects had reduced from 268.52 km on August 30 to 113.47 km by November 30, further progress stalled. As of now, 99.24 km remains pending, with 78.42 km encumbrance-free and ready for handover. He added that 5.44 km of land had been reclaimed by landowners, particularly in Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Tarn Taran.
A specific instance in Tarn Taran was also raised, where a local villager was obstructing bridge construction, and repeated police requests for intervention were ignored. An affidavit filed by the NHAI Regional Officer included photographs showing individuals attempting to seize land in police presence.
Taking a firm stance, the court directed authorities to clear all obstructions within two weeks, including resolving pending statutory notifications and arbitration cases. Courts handling related cases were instructed to pass orders ensuring a smooth handover. Immediate police action was also ordered against unlawful obstructions, with Police Commissioners and district officials directed to provide security, deploy armed personnel, and set up pickets at construction sites when necessary.
The Chief Secretary and Advocate-General were tasked with ensuring legal action against police or administrative officers failing to enforce possession orders. The court warned that officials who defied its directives would face consequences at the next hearing on March 21.
