Meghalaya government assures land-acquisition awards for Indo-Bangladesh border fencing across 23 villages; appeal disposed of

The appellants sought directions requiring the authorities to proceed with and complete land-acquisition proceedings under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, for land in Baghmara, South Garo Hills, required for Phase III Indo-Bangladesh border fencing, and to pay compensation according to law.

At the hearing, the State’s Additional Advocate General tendered a declaration under Section 19 concerning land acquired for border fencing in 23 villages, together with a compilation listing landowners; both were taken on record.

He further stated that a Section 19 notification would be issued within three weeks and that the Government would take steps to pass awards under Section 25.

No one appeared for the appellants.

1. Whether the authorities should be directed to proceed with and complete the land-acquisition process for the appellants’ land and pay compensation under the Act.

2. Whether any issue remained for adjudication after the State’s statements concerning the Section 19 notification and Section 25 awards.

The Court considered the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Section 19 concerns the declaration relating to acquisition, and Section 25 governs the making of awards within the prescribed framework.

No precedents or broader legal principles were cited.

The Court did not determine the merits of the appellants’ claim or independently assess the acquisition process. Instead, it recorded the State’s tender of the Section 19 declaration and landowner compilation, and accepted the State’s statements that a Section 19 notification would issue within three weeks and that steps would be taken to pass awards under Section 25.

In light of those statements, the Court concluded that nothing further survived for consideration in the appeal.

The Additional Advocate General was also directed to provide the appellants’ counsel with a copy of the compilation tendered in Court within one week.