Rampant corruption in Land Acquisition Cases: LA Collectors offices face embarrassment amid court crackdowns and legal failures in Tripura

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 17, 2025

Tripura’s land acquisition system is under intense scrutiny following serious allegations of corruption and legal malpractice that have led to a series of embarrassing legal setbacks for Land Acquisition (LA) Collectors and the state government. A disturbing nexus involving certain government advocates, private land mafias, and even individuals within the judiciary is reportedly responsible for massive financial losses in land compensation cases related to National Highway (NH) projects.

Highly placed sources within the revenue and legal administration have revealed that the collusion between unscrupulous government lawyers and private land agents has enabled landowners to secure disproportionately high compensations, often more than double the actual value, by exploiting legal loopholes, submitting exaggerated valuations, and benefiting from weak or absent government representation in court.

In a recent incident in South Tripura, a court ordered the attachment of the LA Collector’s office furniture and chair after the state failed to comply with compensation directives. This mirrors a previous case from Sepahijala district, where on February 7, 2020, a judgment in favour of Anil Plantation Private Limited led to a significantly enhanced award. The compensation granted by the LA Court included a 30% solatium, 12% additional compensation, and cumulative interest under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894.

Further complications arose during execution proceedings (Execution Case Ex(M) 02 of 2021), when the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) was impleaded as a judgment debtor after the Public Works Department (PWD), NH Division, claimed to have transferred the project. Despite GREF's assurance to the court to clear the dues within two months, no payments were made, prompting contempt and execution proceedings.

The court sharply criticized the acquiring departments for delays and declared that internal transfers between PWD and GREF cannot be used as a shield to deny rightful compensation to landowners. The Tripura High Court, in CRP No. 43 of 2023, upheld this view, refusing to interfere with the lower court’s execution order and affirming that a requisitioning agency cannot avoid liability by claiming non-involvement in the original land acquisition process.

In a noteworthy observation, the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court stated that while the LA Collector had pursued the case actively, the attachment of movable and immovable properties would not resolve the issue unless the full chain of responsibility, from requisition to disbursement was clearly laid out. The Court directed the LA Collector to furnish all related documentation before the Executing Court, including communications with GREF, NHIDCL, and PWD (NH Division), to determine the actual liability of the concerned agencies.

Consequently, the High Court set aside the attachment order dated July 30, 2024, and remitted the matter to the Executing Court for reconsideration, particularly to examine the roles of GREF, NHIDCL, and PWD in fulfilling the compensation obligations. The Court referenced the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Rahul S. Shah vs. Jinendra Kumar Gandhi [(2021) 6 SCC 418], which mandates that executing courts ensure time-bound implementation of decrees to prevent prolonged litigation and procedural abuse.

Sources in the Law Department confirmed that multiple land acquisition compensation cases have been lost in recent months in both the High Court and LA Courts of districts like Sepahijala and South Tripura. Insiders allege that deliberate inaction, misplacement of files, and non-submission of key documents by some government advocates have severely undermined the state’s position, raising serious concerns of internal sabotage and corruption.

As court criticism intensifies and financial liabilities mount, public confidence in the land acquisition system is waning. With billions at stake in ongoing infrastructure projects, the state government faces growing pressure to investigate the alleged collusion, hold erring officials accountable, and reform its legal strategy in land acquisition matters.

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