Payment of increased price to landowners against law, rules FCC 

Giving an important decision in the case of land acquisition for projects of people’s welfare, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Thursday declared null and void the verdicts given by the Supreme Court, the Lahore High Court (LHC) as well as the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and ruled that the payment of increased price to landowners was not in accordance with the law, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In a 45-page verdict, authored by FCC Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, the court said that landowners, who had already received amounts at the time of the acquisition of land, were not entitled to receive increased price at a later stage. 

It further said that it was the duty of the parliament to ensure uniform payment to all landowners, and the courts’ responsibility was to implement the laws.  

Lands were purchased under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for different projects such as those related to defence, educational institutions, grid stations and motorways.

Several landowners had approached courts for an increase in the payment of price.

Even those landowners, who had already received the amounts, moved courts.  

The apex court as well as the high courts had ruled in favour of these owners.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori