Slamming the authorities for their move to scrap the housing plot scheme, the court said the land should be handed over to the beneficiaries within six weeks after accepting the society's contribution of Rs 24.5 lakh.
In case the society found it difficult to pay the money, the authorities must consider permitting it to pay the sum in instalments, Justice V Dhanapalan said passing orders on the petition by Desikanandapuram Adi Dravidar Cooperative House Site Society.
The 56 ground (one ground is about 2,400 sq feet) land was acquired by the government through the Adi Dravida Welfare Department in June 1989, to benefit the 130-member society.
As per the award, the government was to bear the remaining sum to be paid to the land owners.
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The landowners' counsel K Sakthivel argued that the members of the society were government employees and they could not be termed as poor. There was no public purpose in the impugned (acquisition) proceedings, he contended.
Coming down on the District Collector's action recommending withdrawal of the acquisition proceedings, he said this was a clear case of the Executive not keeping its obligation in implementing the policies of the government.
The authorities act according to their whims and fancies and ulterior motive, and attempt to defeat the objective sought to be achieved.