ALLD HC asks UP govt to demand refund of excess compensation

Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court on Monday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file counter affidavit on a writ petition, challenging to demand the refund of excess compensation from the farmers paid in lieu of Lucknow-Agra expressway.

The court directed not to take coercive action against the petitioners in the mean time.

In the writ petition filed by Arvind Kumar and several others from Firozabad district, the petitioners had challenged the notice of the District Magistrate Firozabad dated March 07 2016, by which farmers have been asked for refund of excess money on the plea that they had been paid compensation at the rate of residential land though the nature of the land was agricultural one.

A two-judge bench, comprising of justice Krishna Murari and DK Mishra, had ordered to put up the case after two weeks for hearing.

In the petition, it has been alleged that the state government have paid Rs 1600-8000 per square metre for the land belonging to tehsil Shikohabad of Firozabad. After payment of the compensation, now the impugned notices have been issued by saying that acquired land was Agricultural in nature and therefore the compensation has to be paid at Rs 800 per square metre only.