IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.20691 of 2010 CHANDRA PRAKASH SINGH, S/O- LATE SAHID NARAYAN SINGH, PERMANENT RESIDENCE AT VILLAGE NARPAT NAGAR, P.S.- SAKRI, DISTRICT- MADHUBANI. Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR THROUGH ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, PATNA. 2. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGH WAY AUTHORITY OF INDIA, NEW DELHI. 3. THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGH WAY AUTHORITY, DARBHANGA. 4. THE COLLECTOR MADHUBANI 5. THE ADDITIONAL COLLECTOR, MADHUBANI. 6. THE SUB-DIVISIONAL OFFICER, MADHUBANI 7. THE DISTRICT LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER, MADHUBANI. 8. MADHUCON PROJECT LTD. N.H. 57, BR-07 DARBHANGA SITE, BASE CAMP MANIGACHHI, DISTRICT DARBHANGA, THROUGH ITS PROJECT MANAGER, DARBHANGA. For the petitioner : Mr. Amrendra Narayan, Advocate. Advocate for N.H.A. : Mr. Sunil Kumar, Advocate For the State :Mr. Ajay Kumar Sharma, A.C. to A.A.G.-I 2 04.01.2011 Petitioner prays for a direction upon the respondents commanding them to properly assess valuation and compensation of the petitioner’s land which stood acquired for widening of N.H.-55. Details of lands claimed by the petitioner have been set out in paragraph No. 4 of the writ petition. From perusal of paragraph 13, it appears that the petitioner have absolutely no grievance so far as acquisition of lands for the said purpose is concerned. The real grievance of the petitioner is reflected from paragraph 14 which reads as under: “14. That it is stated that petitioner till day has not even been served copies of Award duly signed by the Project Manager and the District Land Acquisition Officer Madhubani to receive amount. Petitioner pursuant to receipt of notices had approached the office of land Acquisition Officer Madhubani along with documents and papers of his plots. He had filed his objections/protest before the land acquisition officer Madhubani pursuant to receipt of notices against the valuation so fixed and - 2 - amount fixed as compensation. The petitioner also raised his grievances as to amount of compensation for loss of damages as also interest. It is stated and submitted that the authorities even after timely receipt of the objections filed by the petitioner remained deaf and dumb to the grievances of the petitioner. The respondents till have not made even correction in the plot numbers in the records as they claim it could done only after publication of fresh corrigendum to the Adhisuchna.” In paragraph 26, the petitioner has asserted as under: “26. That it is stated that petitioner by filing protests these in the knowledge of District Land Acquisition Officer, Madhubani. Petitioner has met the Project Officer NHAI Darbhanga. It is stated that as per the provision of law the respondents ought to have disposed of petitioner’s objections by redressing or have referred the matter as dispute to the arbitrator for determination of proper valuation and compensation of the land taken from the petitioner as well the damages caused to him but the respondents are sitting tight over the matter. Petitioner’s representation is pending but the respondents are not redressing grievances of the petitioner as was done in the case of other villagers and persons of his locality.“ No document, however, has been appended in support of the aforesaid averment made in paragraph 26. In that view of the matter, this Court is constrained to consider the grievance of the petitioner. In the fitness of thing, the petitioner should first approach the authority for ventilation of the grievance reflected in the present application. At this stage, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that he would opt for arbitration in the matter. Learned counsel for the State, on instruction, submits that an arbitrator has already been appointed in the matter. In that view of the matter, petitioner would be well - 3 - advised to approach the said authority for ventilation of the grievance. It is expected that the entire consideration of the claim of the petitioner shall be concluded expeditiously once the petitioner approaches the authority with the grievances. Application stands disposed of. pkj (Kishore K. Mandal, J)