A nearly three-decade-old land compensation dispute has come back to haunt the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), with the payable amount ballooning from ₹2 lakh to around ₹27 lakh due to prolonged non-payment.
In 1997, a court had directed the LDA to pay decree-holder Nirmala Singh approximately ₹2 lakh along with 15% simple interest. However, despite the clear directive, the payment was never made. Over the years, the accumulating interest has pushed the total liability to nearly ₹27 lakh.
The dispute pertains to compensation linked to a residential scheme in Ujariaon village. According to submissions made before the court, the LDA had challenged the compensation amount in the High Court. The appeal was dismissed on March 3, 2020. Even after the dismissal, the authority failed to release the dues.
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Court’s Strong Observations
During the hearing, the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority (LARA) court took serious note of the delay. Presiding Officer Harendra Bahadur Singh observed that failure to deposit the due amount creates a grave situation and imposes an unnecessary financial burden on the public exchequer in the form of mounting interest.
The court termed the case one of the “oldest pending matters” and attributed the delay to inaction by the acquisition department. It remarked that timely compliance would have prevented the escalation of liability and safeguarded public funds.
Fine Imposed on Officer
The court imposed a penalty of ₹10,000 on the designated officer of the LDA for non-compliance. It directed that the amount be recovered from the concerned official and deposited accordingly. A copy of the order has also been sent to the Commissioner to ensure administrative accountability.
In an earlier hearing, the officer in charge of acquisition, Virak Karwaria, had assured the court that the payment process would be completed within three weeks. The court had granted time based on this assurance, but the dues were still not cleared within the stipulated period.
The authority has now been directed to submit a compliance report along with the main case file on March 13.
Liability Mounts from 1997 to 2026
Under the original order, the LDA was required to pay ₹2 lakh with 15% simple interest. The prolonged delay of nearly 29 years led to a steady accumulation of interest, raising the total payable amount to around ₹27 lakh.
Legal experts point out that departmental apathy in executing court orders often results in avoidable financial losses to government bodies. Delayed compliance not only increases interest liabilities but also invites judicial censure and monetary penalties.
Questions Over Administrative Accountability
The court’s remarks have raised concerns about the functioning of the acquisition department. Observers note that lack of coordination and bureaucratic inertia frequently lead to long-pending cases, ultimately costing the public treasury.
In this case, the court has made it clear that continued non-compliance is unacceptable. All eyes are now on the LDA as it prepares to present its compliance report on March 13 and address the significantly increased liability.
The 29-year-old dispute stands as a stark reminder that ignoring judicial directives can prove costly—both financially and institutionally.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
