THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition Nos.1696/2011, 19653/2009, 10045/2010 & 16124 OF 2010 COMMON ORDER: The National Highways Authority initiated steps for widening N.H.No.9 between Vijayawada and Hyderabad, to a four-lane road. The widening required acquisition of properties on both sides of the existing road. Notifications under the relevant provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956 (for short ‘the Act’) were published, in respect of the land in Sy.Nos.320, 333, 396 of Chityal Village and Mandal, Nalgonda District. Notices under Form-VI were also issued under Section 3-G of the Act, comparable to Sections 9(1) and 10 of the Land Acquisition Act, on 07-08-2009. W.P.No.19653 of 2009 is filed alleging that, though the petitioners therein have rights, vis-à-vis the acquired land, they were not served with the notices. They challenge the action of the 2nd respondent therein i.e. the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition and Revenue Divisional Officer, Nalgonda, in proposing to pay the entire compensation to their exclusion. W.P.No.1696 of 2011 is filed by the petitioner therein, challenging the action of the Competent Authority, in not proceeding with the award enquiry, on the sole ground that W.P.No.19653 of 2009 is pending. The lands in Sy.Nos.156, 157, 158, 225, 226, 228 and 319 of the same village were also proposed to be acquired. W.P.No.10045 of 2010 is filed assailing the action of the Competent Authority in proposing to pay the compensation to respondents 5 to 10 therein. W.P.No.16124 of 2010 is filed challenging the action of the Competent Authority in not referring the matter pertaining to the payment of compensation, in respect of Sy.Nos.16/2 of Inpamula Village, Kethepally Mandal, Nalgonda District, under sub-section (4) of Section 3-H of the Act. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, learned Standing Counsel for the National Highways Authority, and learned counsel for the respondents. The grievance of the petitioners is, in relation to payment of compensation for the lands proposed to be acquired. The proceedings are at the stage of award enquiry. The very purpose of conducting award enquiry is, to consider the claims of various persons, who possess rights, in respect of the acquired property. For making a claim for payment of compensation, it is not necessary that the claimant must have received a notice. Much would depend upon the legality or otherwise of the claim. The Competent Authority is conferred with the power to pay compensation for the acquired land, in case there is no dispute among various claimants. On the other hand, if the compensation is claimed by many persons, and the disputes are serious in nature, he has to refer the matter under Section 3-H(4) of the Act, to the concerned Authority. This Court cannot make any final pronouncement upon the rights claimed by the petitioners, in the respective writ petitions. Hence, the writ petitions are disposed of, directing that, it shall be open to the petitioners to submit their claims, vis-à-vis the properties, that are sought to be acquired, before the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition, i.e. the Revenue Divisional Officer, Nalgonda. The Competent Authority shall take the same into account, before passing the award. If, in respect of any particular item of land, there are no rival claims, he shall pay compensation to the claimant. If there exists many claims, in respect of the same property, he shall refer the matter to the concerned authority, under Section 3-H (4) of the National Highways Act. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dt.25-02-2011. KO