IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.12731 of 2010 Date of decision: 21.7.2010 Harjinder Singh and others …..Petitioners versus State of Punjab and others ……Respondents CORAM: Hon’ble Mr.Justice Jasbir Singh Hon’ble Mr.Justice Augustine George Masih Present: Mr.Naresh Kaushal, Advocate for the petitioners Jasbir Singh, J. (Oral) Petitioners’ land was acquired to construct Thermal Plant at Rajpura in the year 2008. It is grievance of the petitioners that as promised, amount of compensation, including solatium, interest and non-litigation premium has not been paid to them. This writ petition has been filed by claiming the following relief:- “B) issue a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to take action on the legal notice dated 25.5.2009 (Annexure P/4), reminder dated 20.7.2009 (Annexure P/5) and make the payment of balance amount of compensation at the rate of Rs.1,43,250/- per acre more, over and above the amount already paid, to the petitioners/ land owners, with up- to-date interest and further provide them free electric tubewell connections on the priority basis as have been given to the Civil Writ Petition No.12731 of 2010 land owners, whose land have been acquired in surrounding areas, and any other appropriate writ, order or direction, which this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case may kindly be passed/ issued in the interest of justice.” To say that the petitioners are entitled to the above said relief, reference has been made to some letters/ communication inter-se the authorities concerned. During arguments, it transpired that by stating their grievance, the petitioners have already sent a legal notice on 25.5.2009 (P4) and thereafter a reminder was also sent on 20.7.2009 (P5). However, nothing has been done by the authorities. In view of facts of this case, this writ petition is disposed of by issuing directions to Secretary, Government of Punjab, Department of Irrigation at Chandigarh to take note and decide legal notice filed by the petitioners by passing a reasoned order, after affording an opportunity of hearing to a representative of the petitioners. If any case is made out in favour of the petitioners, on the basis of documents put on record of this writ petition, the requisite relief be granted to them forthwith. Needful be done within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. (Jasbir Singh) Judge 21.07.2010 (Augustine George Masih) gk Judge 2