Archive · 23 Jul 2026
SC Favours Amendment to Highways Act
The Supreme Court of India said that it's not fair for government officials to decide how much money people should get when their land is taken for highways.
They think judges should do this instead because it's a legal matter.
The Court noted that other land laws already have judges making these decisions, but the Highways Act is different.
The government is thinking about changing the law to make this happen.
Supreme Court observes that bureaucrats deciding land compensation under the National Highways Act is a systemic disadvantage for landowners.
Court favours amending the Act to have judicially trained adjudicators decide compensation disputes.
Principal land acquisition law ensures compensation is determined by judicially trained authorities, unlike the Highways Act.
Government is considering a proposal to amend the National Highways Act to address the issue.
Supreme Court indicates it will await the government's policy decision on the matter.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Government of India
- What
- Supreme Court favours amending the National Highways Act to have judicially trained adjudicators decide land compensation disputes instead of bureaucrats
- When
- Observations made on Thursday
- Where
- Supreme Court of India
- Why
- To ensure fairness and judicial oversight in determining compensation for land acquired under the National Highways Act
Government's Current Position
Supreme Court's Stance
Decision-Making Authority
Government's Current Position
Bureaucrats should decide land compensation disputes under the National Highways Act, 1956.
Supreme Court's Stance
Judicially trained adjudicators should decide land compensation disputes to ensure fairness and judicial oversight.
- Act in Question
- National Highways Act, 1956
- Current Decision-Makers
- Government-appointed bureaucrats
- Supreme Court's Proposal
- Judicially trained adjudicators
- Principal Land Acquisition Law
- Ensures compensation is determined by judicially trained authorities
- Government's Response
- Proposal to amend the National Highways Act is under active consideration
- Supreme Court's Stance
- Prima facie, not acceptable for bureaucrats to decide compensation disputes
- Bench Composition
- Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Justice V. Mohan
- Attorney General
- R. Venkataramani