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2025 DAILYLAW 20561 (AP)

THE PROJECT DIRECTOR v. CHENNU SAMBASIVA RAO

CRP/1393/2025 · 2025-09-02

Ninala Jayasurya, Tuhin Kumar Gedela

body2025

Judgment text

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APHC010800202016 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH WEDNESDAY, TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NINALA JAYASURYA THE HONOURABLE SRI CIVIL REVISION PETITION No: 139 Between: The Project Director, National Highways Authority of India, Vanamali Buildings, Commercial Taxes Officers colony, Near NAC Kalyana Mandapam, Vijayawada. Chennu Sambasiva Rao Aged about 63 years, R/o.Bahuba Gannavaram Mandal, Krishna District. Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. Mr.S.S.Varma Counsel for the Respondent(S): Mr.Sai Gangadhar Chamarthy 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE THIRD DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NINALA JAYASURYA AND THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TUHIN KUMAR GEDELA CIVIL REVISION PETITION No: 1393 of 2025 The Project Director, National Highways Authority of India, Vanamali Buildings, Commercial Taxes Officers colony, Near NAC Kalyana Mandapam, Vijayawada. ...PETITIONER AND Chennu Sambasiva Rao, S/o.Gopaiah, R/o.Bahubalendrunigudem Village, Gannavaram Mandal, Krishna District. ...RESPONDENT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner: Counsel for the Respondent(S): Mr.Sai Gangadhar Chamarthy NJS, J & GTK, J CRP_1393_2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3549] THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NINALA JAYASURYA JUSTICE TUHIN KUMAR GEDELA ...PETITIONER ...RESPONDENT(S): 2 NJS, J & GTK, J CRP_1393_2025 The Court made the following Order: (Per Hon’ble NJS, J) Aggrieved by the order dated 05.05.2025 in E.P.No.566 of 2021 in A.O.P.No.226 of 2018 on the file of the Court of VII Additional District Judge, Vijayawada, the present Revision Petition came to be filed. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner / Judgment Debtor No.2 and learned counsel for the respondent / Decree holder. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia submits that under the provisions of the National Highways Act (for short ‘the Act’), the land of the respondent was acquired and the Competent Authority (CALA) determined the compensation under Section 3 G (1) of the said Act and having dissatisfied with the same, the respondent approached the learned Arbitrator & Joint Collector, who inturn enhanced the compensation vide Award dated 29.06.2019. He submits that against the said Award, both the petitioner as well as the respondent filed Original Petitions under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, that while the said O.Ps., are pending, the respondent herein initiated Execution Proceedings and without appreciating the matter in the correct perspective, the E.P., in question was allowed. 4. The learned counsel submits that when the respondent / decree holder himself had preferred an O.P., against the Award of the Arbitrator, the learned Executing Court ought to have appreciated that the Award has not attained finality and therefore, the respondent is not entitled to execute the Award. While stating that in compliance with the interim order dated 23.06.2025, 1/3rd 3 NJS, J & GTK, J CRP_1393_2025 of the decretal amount along with costs was deposited, the learned counsel seeks to set aside the order under challenge. 5. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the respondent made submissions to sustain the impugned order. While not disputing the statement that the respondent preferred O.P., under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act against the Award of the Arbitrator, the learned counsel would contend that as the Award of the Arbitrator was not stayed, the execution proceedings were initiated and the order of the Executing Court cannot be found fault with. He, accordingly, seeks dismissal of the Revision Petition. 6. This Court has considered the submissions made and perused the order under challenge. 7. At the outset, it may be noted that against the Award of the learned Arbitrator under Section 3G (5) of the National Highways Act, both sides have filed O.Ps., under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The learned Executing Court dealing with the aspect of the respondent / decree holder’s entitlement to seek execution of the Award when the same was under challenge in the O.P., filed by the respondent by a cryptic order, allowed the E.P., in a slipshot manner. No cogent reasons were assigned and the order under challenge is liable to be set aside on these grounds. 8. However, considering the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner that in compliance with the interim orders of this Court dated 23.06.2025, 1/3rd of the E.P. amount has already been deposited, instead of 4 NJS, J & GTK, J CRP_1393_2025 remanding the matter for passing orders afresh, this Court deems it appropriate, more particularly as the O.Ps., were filed long back, to direct the learned District Judge to dispose of the O.Ps., filed by the respective parties while making the interim order absolute. 9. Accordingly, the Revision Petition is disposed of, providing that the learned District Court shall make endeavour to dispose of the A.O.Ps., filed by the parties herein, strictly in accordance with the Law, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of eight (8) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The interim order granted by this Court shall remain in operation till the disposal of the O.Ps. Further, considering the submission that the stakes involved in the matter are very low and the respondent who lost his land long back had not received even the compensation as determined by the Competent Authority (CALA), this Court deems it appropriate to permit the respondent to withdraw the 1/3rd amount deposited pursuant to the orders of this Court referred to supra. Needless to observe that in the event, the petitioner succeeds in the Arbitration O.Ps., it is entitled to recover the excess amounts, if any paid, in accordance with the Law. No order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications if any, pending shall stand closed. ___________________________ JUSTICE NINALA JAYASURYA _____________________________ JUSTICE TUHIN KUMAR GEDELA Date: 03.09.2025 BLV 5 NJS, J & GTK, J CRP_1393_2025 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NINALA JAYASURYA AND THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TUHIN KUMAR GEDELA C.R.P. No: 1393 of 2025 Dated: 03.09.2025 BLV