Streamline process of land acquisition and award of compensation using technology, Karnataka High Court directs Chief Secretary
The Chief Secretary should also lay down some guidelines of standard operating procedure with the assistance of e-government department to bring about transparency and efficiency in the system relating to grant of compensation on account of acquisition of land and while doing so, protect the interest of the land-losers, who are rendered voiceless in the proceeding, the court said.
The court also said that the information technology tool to be used for streamlining the process should be capable of capturing the details of the acquisition notification, inquiry, report of the Special Land Acquisition Officers (SLAOs), final notification, court proceedings, reference of award to the courts, and all related proceedings and documents from the time of issuance of a preliminary notification till the final notification, including notices, file notings, etc.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj issued the directions while pointing out the delay in the process of redetermination of compensation based on the civil court's order with respect to certain land that was acquired in 1991 for the Upper Tunga Project in Haveri district and for Konkan Railway project in Karwar of Uttara Kannada district. The SLAO had passed order on redetermination only in 2022, the court noted.
The technology should have tools for day-to-day follow-up of the proceedings before the reference court, and day-to-day actions, and the responsibility of the each of the persons for the proceeding before the reference court, and other proceedings in the acquisition process, the court said.
Meanwhile, the court directed the Chief Secretary to institute an enquiry on the delay in redetermination process in this case and submit a report within six weeks.
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