Munish Sood
Mandi
The Himachal Pradesh government’s decision to challenge the High Court verdict on land acquisition compensation by filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court has triggered widespread anger among farmers and families affected by highway, railway and infrastructure projects across the state.
At a press conference in Kullu, Brigadier (Retd.) Khushal Thakur, Patron of the Himachal Pradesh Four-Lane Joint Struggle Committee, condemned the move as a “grave injustice” to lakhs of farmers whose land has been acquired since January 1, 2015. He said the government should have implemented the High Court’s order instead of contesting it in the Supreme Court.
High Court Verdict on Factor-1 Compensation
Brigadier Thakur recalled that in 2015, the then Virbhadra Singh-led government had issued a notification fixing rural land acquisition compensation at Factor-1 (double the market value). The High Court later struck down this notification, declaring it unconstitutional, and upheld farmers’ demand for Factor-2 compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
“There is no provision anywhere in the country for Factor-1 compensation in rural areas. The law clearly mandates Factor-2,” Thakur emphasized.
Government Ignoring Law and Commitments
He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the Land Acquisition Act, and the manifestos of both BJP and Congress support Factor-2 compensation. He warned that delaying implementation would only increase the financial burden, as the state would eventually have to pay enhanced compensation with interest from 2015.
Currently, nine states pay compensation under Factor-2, eight follow a graded system, while Himachal remains the only state implementing Factor-1.
Rehabilitation Concerns and Environmental Risks
Thakur alleged that families displaced by four-lane projects have not received rehabilitation benefits, and compensation policies remain unclear. He also raised environmental concerns, citing tunnel collapses and land subsidence during construction between Mandi and Kullu, demanding comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) before further work.
Warning of Statewide Agitation
The Joint Struggle Committee, represented by leaders including Dinesh Sen, Brijesh Mehta, and Bhubnesh Sharma, warned of a statewide movement if the government fails to withdraw the SLP and implement the High Court verdict.
Brigadier Thakur urged the Chief Minister and Revenue Minister to hold a high-level dialogue with farmer representatives to resolve the issue through consensus.
