The Hon'ble Sri Justice C.V.Nagarjuna Reddy Writ Petition No.24974 of 2011 Date: 29-11-2011 Between: K.Satyanarayan Reddy and 6 others ..... Petitioners AND The Arbitrator under National Highways Act, 1956/The District Collector, Medak District at Sangareddy and another. .....Respondents Counsel for the Petitioners: Sri Satyam Reddy for Mr.M.Rajamalla Reddy Counsel for Respondent No.1: Mr.SS.Varma, SC for NHAI Counsel for respondent No.2: AGP for Land Acquisition The Court made the following : Order: The grievance of the petitioners in this Writ Petition is that the appeals filed by them before respondent No.1 against award, dated 10-10-2006, of respondent No.2, are not being disposed of even though more than four years had elapsed. In the counter-affidavit filed by respondent No.2, it is inter alia stated that the copies of award proceedings were submitted to respondent No.1 on 12-06-2007 for consideration of appeals; that, while the appeals were pending, the National Highways Authority of India, Hyderabad (for short ‘NHAI’), has filed a petition before respondent No.1 with a request to return the award proceedings to the competent authority on the ground that some land along with structures was not included in the award proceedings and; that the same has to be incorporated therein. It is further stated that, considering the said request, the award proceedings were returned on 24- 07-2007 and that, in view of these developments, the appeals have not been disposed of. It is further stated that correspondence was exchanged between the Project Director of NHAI and the Revenue Department, according to which an additional extent of Ac.25-32 cents is included in the two awards; that the revenue authorities have been pursuing the matter with the NHAI for finalizing and passing awards and; that respondent No.2 is awaiting final report from the Project Director, NHAI. It is further stated that, as and when final award is communicated, the same will be sent to respondent No.1 to enable him to dispose of the appeals /arbitration applications. The facts stated in the counter-affidavit reveal that, on account of the proposal for amendment of the awards, the proceedings before respondent No.1 are kept pending for more than four years. Even if it is felt that the awards need modification by inclusion of additional properties, there is no justification for the competent authorities to keep the issues pending for unduly long periods. The respondents shall pursue the matter with the NHAI and ensure that the proceedings for modification of award are concluded within a reasonable period to enable respondent No.1 to dispose of the appeals/arbitration applications. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of with the direction to respondent No.1 to finalize and dispose of the appeals/arbitration applications within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order irrespective of whether the awards are modified or not by the NHAI. As a sequel, WPMP.No.30715 of 2011, filed by the petitioners for interim relief, is disposed of as infructuous. ______________________ (C.V.Nagarjuna Reddy, J) 29th November, 2011 LUR