APHC010000652026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3208] TUESDAY,THE SIXTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 138/2026 Between: 1. NELAKUDITI SRI HARI BABU, S/O. VENKATA RAO, AGED 65 YEARS, R/O. DOOR.NO. 4-104, BACKSIDE BUS STOP, MEDIKONDURU, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. SMT. VEMULAPALLI SATYAVATI,, W/O. RAMANA RAO AGED 54 YEARS, R/O. DOOR.NO. 5-118, MEDIKONDURU, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. SMT. DAMACHARLA SUBBAYAMMA, W/O. RAJARAO, AGED 60 YEARS, R/O. DOOR.NO. 4-8, MAIN ROAD, MEDIKONDURU, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 4. CHAVAPATI PEDA MASTANVALI, S/O. CHINNA JANU AGED 56 YEARS, R/O. DOOR.NO. 7-1 OA, PEDDA MASEEDU STREET, NEAR PATA BRIDGE, MEDIKONDURU, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 5. NELAKUDITI PAVAN KUMAR,, S/O. NAGA MALLESWARA RAO, AGED 35 YEARS, R/O. DOOR.NO. 6-53, VTC, MEDIKONDURU, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 6. NELAKUDITI KRISHNA CHAITANYA, S/O. HARUBABUNELAKUDITI, AGED 39 YEARS, R/O. DOOR.NO. 4-104, MEDIKONDURU GUNTUR DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF ROAD 2 TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS, NEW DELHI, INDIA. -110001 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR CUM ARBITRATOR, N.H -167 AG, LAND ACQUISITION, GUNTUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT. -522001 3. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER CUM COMPETENT AUTHORITY, LAND ACQUISITION, NH - 167 AG, GUNTUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT.- 522001 ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased toPleased to issue any writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the inaction of the 2nd respondent in considering and disposing of arbitration application filed by the petitioners under Section 3G (5) National Highways Act is illegal, arbitrary and violation of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and to consequently direct the 2nd respondent to adjudicate and dispose of the arbitration applications of the petitioners forthwith and to pass IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to direct the 2nd respondent to expedite the disposal of arbitration application filed by the petitioners on 12-11-2024 pending disposal of the writ petition and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. V V SATISH Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR LAND ACQUISITION 2. The Court made the following: 3 ORDER: This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: “…to issue any writ, order or direction, more particularly one in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus, declaring the inaction of the 2nd respondent in considering and disposing of the arbitration applications filed by the petitioners under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act as illegal, arbitrary, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, and consequently to direct the 2nd respondent to adjudicate and dispose of the arbitration applications of the petitioners forthwith and pass appropriate orders.” 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue appearing for the respondents. 3. The grievance of the petitioners is that, though they requested that compensation be granted on par with layout lands and not as agricultural lands, the 3rd respondent passed the award and granted compensation by treating the lands of the petitioners as agricultural lands, ignoring their potentiality for non-agricultural use, as the lands are surrounded by developed areas. Aggrieved by the fixation of compensation by the 3rd respondent, the petitioners filed arbitration applications before the 2nd respondent under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, requesting enhancement of compensation on par with that awarded to residential plots. However, despite the lapse of nearly two years, the 2nd respondent has not chosen to consider 4 and dispose of the said arbitration applications. Hence, the petitioners have filed the present writ petition. 4. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioners, the 2nd respondent is directed to consider the arbitration applications filed by the petitioners and pass appropriate orders, after providing an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners, within a period of three (3) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 5. With the above directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this writ petition shall stand closed. __________________ JUSTICE D. RAMESH 6th January, 2026 cbn 5 394 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE D. RAMESH Writ Petition No.138 of 2026 6th January, 2026 cbn