WP(C) 4571/2011 BEFORE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE B D AGARWAL Heard Md. MH Choudhury, learned counsel for the petitioners. Mr. HM Phukan, lear ned Government Advocate appeared on behalf of the State respondents. None appear ed on behalf of the Union of India. In view of the limited prayer of the petitioners, the writ petit ion is being disposed of at the motion stage itself. The petitioners’ case is that their lands have been acquired und er the Provision of National Highway Act. 1956 and compensation have also been p aid. However, the petitioners are not satisfied with the compensation amount and as such, they submitted an application to the Additional Deputy Commissioner-cu m- Competent authority, National Highway Authority of Indian, Kamrup ( Rural) o n 12.07.2011. However, the said authority declined to accept the application. From the documents annexed with the writ petition, it appears to me that all the relevant notices under the Act were issued by the Addl.Deputy C ommissioner declaring himself as the competent authority. Under Section 3G(5) of the National Highway Act, the competent authority has the duty to forward the a pplication of the parties for determination of reasonable amount of compensation to the Arbitrator. Ms. Phukan submitted that an Arbitrator under the Act has already been appointed and as such, there should not be difficulty to refer the dispute to the Arbitrator. In view of the above, the ADC, Kamrup (Rural) is directed to accept the application for doing the needful. For any reason, if he is not th e competent authority, the Addl.Deputy Commissioner shall put up the application before the competent authority immediately who shall refer the dispute to the A rbitrator with all relevant materials. To expedite the matter, the petitioners are directed to su bmit a fresh application under 3G(5) of the National Highway Act-1956 to the co mpetent authority within a period of 1(one) week from today. With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition stands di sposed of.