Authority: Supreme Court of India, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction
Order Date: October 8, 2026
Case Overview
- Petitioners: Meerut Development Authority (MDA); Respondents: Parameshwar Dayal & Anr., along with several other landowners.
- The SLPs arise from land‑acquisition proceedings under the Shatabdi Nagar Housing Scheme dating back to 1987.
- Original compensation determined by the Special Land Acquisition Officer (award dated 22 Feb 1990) was Rs.20/- and Rs.27/- per square yard.
- The Presiding Officer, Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority, Meerut, enhanced compensation (award dated 30 Mar 2024) to Rs.690/- and Rs.720/- per square yard for the respective villages.
- The Reference Court further varied amounts for individual landowners; a detailed chart (Appendix‑I) records these variations.
- The enhanced compensation is currently under challenge before the Allahabad High Court in a batch of First Appeals under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
- The High Court, via interim orders (e.g., order dated 17 Sep 2025 in First Appeal No. 717 of 2025), stayed implementation of the Reference Court award, directing the petitioner to deposit 50% of the enhanced amount in cash and furnish security for the remaining 50%.
- The High Court also permitted claimants to receive the cash‑deposited amount, with the balance subject to final decision.
- A prior Supreme Court order dated 24 Apr 2026 in a similar matter directed release of Rs.50,00,000 (≈8.33% of an enhanced sum of ~Rs.6 crore) to landowners.
- Appendix‑I supplied by MDA lists compensation details for 15 landowners, showing a total enhanced compensation of ₹59,35,09,179.73 and an amount to be paid of ₹59,20,16,598.18 after adjustments. The aggregate of previously paid amounts is ₹77,53,663.65.
Final Outcome
- The Supreme Court disposed of the SLPs, directing MDA to deposit the entire enhanced compensation sum awarded by the Reference Court with the Registry of the High Court within four weeks of the order.
- Upon deposit, the Registrar General shall set aside 8.33% of the enhanced amount and release it to the respondents in accordance with law; the remaining balance shall be placed in separate interest‑bearing fixed‑deposit accounts of a nationalised bank on an auto‑renewal basis, pending further High Court orders.
- If the first appeals succeed, the released sum shall be returned to the petitioner by the respondents.
- The Court expressed concern over the delay in the High Court and requested the High Court to prioritize the pending first appeals, aiming for disposal within six months of this order. If the High Court cannot meet this timeline, respondents may seek release of additional sums as deemed fit.
- The Registry is instructed to forward a copy of this order to the Registrar General of the High Court for information and possible administrative directions.
Topics: Court Order, Land Acquisition Compensation, High Court Appeal