IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT AT CHANDIGARH CWP No. 9004 of 2009 Date of decision: 11.02.2010 Jai Dev Sharma ....Petitioner Vs. Union of India & ors. ....Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.M.KUMAR HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE JITENDRA CHAUHAN Present: Mr.Vivek K.Thakur, Advocate, for the petitioners, Mr.Suvir Sehgal, Addl, AG, Punjab, Mr.Rajiv Godara, Advocate with Mukesh Yadav, Advocate for respondent No.1. 1.To be referred to the Reporter or not? 2.Whether the judgment should be reported in the digest? M.M.Kumar J. The petitioner has approached this Court with a prayer for issuing a direction to the competent authority-cum-Land Acquisition Collector, Punjab, Public Works Department, (B & R Section), Jalandhar to release the compensation and interest from the date of award in respect of land bearing Khewat No.67/41 R, 40/33 R, 55 R Min., 76/47 R Min, Khatauni No.107, 61, 118, measuring 18 killa, 16 marla comprised in Khasra No.Rect.No.13, Killa No.20/2, Rect.No.14, Killa No.15/2, 16, 17, situated in village Bharoli Kalan, Hadbast No.243, Tehsil Pathankot, District Gurdaspur. The expression 'competent authority' has been defined by Section 3 of the National Highways Act, 1956 which in the present case is Land Acquisition Collector. In the written statement filed by the respondent Nos.2, 3 and 4, it has been pointed out in Para No.4 that apart from the petitioner, there are other claimants who have made claims for payment of compensation as their names also figured in the column of ownership along with the petitioner. Their names are: Smt.Raj Kumari, widow of Sh.Pratap Singh, Sh.Karam Singh, Sh.Prem Singh CWP No. 9004 of 2009 ..2.. and Sh.Shamsher Singh, sons of Sh.Pratap Singh and Sh.Khuspal Singh son of Smt.Giano etc. The above said written statement was filed on 09.12.2009. Mr.Suvir Sehgal, learned State counsel has pointed out at the hearing today that on account of the dispute between the claimants, the competent authority-cum- Land Acquisition Collector, Punjab, Public Works Department, (B & R Section), Jalandhar has forwarded a copy of the reference for determining the claim of compensation in respect of the petitioner as well as the other claimants in respect of the aforesaid land as per the mandate of Section 3 H(4) of the National Highways Act, 1956 to the learned District Judge, Gurdaspur on 28.01.2010. In view of the above, the writ petition has been rendered infructuous and the dispute shall now be decided by the learned District Judge, Gurdaspur expeditiously in accordance with law. In view of above, writ petition stands disposed of. (M.M.Kumar) Judge 11.02.2010 (Jitendra Chauhan) sailesh Judge