Hundreds of Landowners in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Await Compensation Despite Legal Orders
In a startling revelation, the Madras High Court has unearthed massive delays in compensating landowners whose properties were acquired across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. As of December 31, 2024, a total of 1,557.61 crore remains unpaid to hundreds of landowners despite numerous court-ordered compensations.
The Scale of the Problem: Over 1,280 Execution Petitions Pending
Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, while hearing a 2017 writ petition filed by M. Settu and M. Chandrasekar, called for updated statistics from the Registrar (Statistics) of the High Court. The case pertained to compensation for lands acquired to establish the BHEL factory in Ranipet district.
Upon review, Justice Venkatesh found that 1,222 execution petitions (EPs) were pending across Tamil Nadu for recovering ₹1,521.83 crore, and 59 EPs in Puducherry for ₹35.78 crore.
District-wise data pointed to critical problem areas. Tiruvallur district alone accounted for ₹431.12 crore, followed by Chennai at ₹387.10 crore, Namakkal with ₹375.40 crore, and Chengalpattu standing at ₹319.13 crore. These figures indicate a widespread issue, cutting across urban and rural regions alike.
A Systemic Failure Spanning Years
The judge highlighted that Justice N. Seshasayee (retired) had already raised similar concerns back in 2018, citing an unpaid amount of ₹760 crore. Despite the passage of time, little progress had been made. The amount has now doubled, pointing to persistent systemic inefficiencies and lack of enforcement.
Justice Venkatesh sternly noted, “This assumes significance since the lands of the owners have been taken away and they are made to stand with the begging bowl to recover the compensation.” He stressed that receiving fair compensation is a fundamental constitutional right of every property owner.
Government Departments Under Scrutiny
In response, the court has suo motu impleaded key government officials as parties to the case, including the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, and Secretaries of Revenue, Industries, Highways, Housing, Finance, and Adi Dravidar Welfare departments. Justice Venkatesh has scheduled the next hearing on March 21, 2025, and has called upon Advocate General P.S. Raman to assist the court in devising a sustainable legal and administrative solution.
To Prioritize and Implement
The alarming figures revealed by the Madras High Court not only underscore the inefficiencies in the land acquisition compensation process but also highlight a deeper issue of accountability and governance. Landowners, whose properties were taken in the name of development, should not be forced to navigate a labyrinth of legal hurdles for years just to receive what is legally owed to them. As the court gears up for the next hearing, it is crucial for government departments to treat this as an urgent priority and implement corrective measures.