Supreme Court Dismisses Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation’s Plea Against JMD Industries, Cites Insufficient Grounds for Condoning 1000-Day Delay, Upholds Compensation Order”

Court’s Decision:
The Supreme Court dismissed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (HSIIDC) and others, citing a delay of 1024 days in filing the petition. The Court also dismissed the petition on merits, as it found no grounds to interfere with the Punjab & Haryana High Court’s decision, which directed the petitioner to pay compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Facts of the Case:
The petitioner, HSIIDC, sought to challenge a judgment by the Punjab & Haryana High Court, which had ordered compensation to JMD Industries through its partner, Basant Kumar, as per the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act. The case involved issues of land acquisition and compensation.

Petitioner’s Arguments:
HSIIDC, represented by Mr. Alok Sangwan and his legal team, filed an application for the condonation of a 1024-day delay in filing the petition. However, they did not provide any plausible or convincing reason for such an extensive delay.

Respondent’s Arguments:
The respondent, JMD Industries, represented by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, opposed the petition, arguing that the compensation order was in line with the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 and that no interference was warranted.

Court’s Reasoning:
The Supreme Court found that the petitioner failed to provide sufficient grounds for condoning the delay of over 1000 days. Additionally, the Court noted that the compensation directed by the Division Bench of the High Court under the 2013 Act was justified and did not warrant any interference.

Conclusion:
The Supreme Court dismissed the SLP both on the grounds of the delay in filing the petition and on the merits of the case. All pending applications were disposed of accordingly.