Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Apr 29: The office of the assistant commissioner (AC) here was attached as per the court orders for non-disbursal of compensation amount sanctioned to land owners towards acquisition of land for the international airport expansion here on Thursday April 28.
Several items including computers, tables, chairs, air-conditioners etc in the office of the AC were attached.
In 2005, notification had been issued seeking expansion of the airport by acquiring land belonging to Domba and Appi at Kenjarpadavu. In 2007, both had given up 50 cents of land each for this purpose. Only Rs 1.5 lac was disbursed to each of them as compensation. Both of them approached the court court, challenging this payment, and claiming that it was too low.
The court, in its judgement delivered in 2014, had ordered the government to pay compensation at the rate of ten lac rupees per acre of land. But, the officials had harassed both the land owners, without making payment of the balance amount due to them. When the families met the AC a year back and explained to him their predicament, he had promised to write to the government and disburse compensation thereafter.
As the compensation amount had not been deposited in the court, the court had served final notice two months back to the AC, after which he sought two months time to arrange for the same. This period also lapsed on
March 25. The court, noting that the AC had failed to deposit the requisite amount, asked him to pay Rs 21 lac to Appi and Rs 19 lac to Domba including interest till date. It also had warned of attaching assets in the office of the AC in case of failure to obey this order. As the amount continued to be unpaid, the office of the AC was attached and a number of items were impounded.
Officials and policemen were present at the time of the attachment and seizure of assets belonging to the government.