Shimla, Aug 26
In a ruling with far-reaching implications for victims of highway projects in Himachal Pradesh, the High Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to provide compensation to the National Law University (NLU), Shimla, after its hostel building was rendered unsafe due to highway collapse and widening work.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Satyen Vaidya observed that the issue of compensation cannot be confined only within the Right of Way (ROW). The court held that even structures and land beyond the notified ROW, if affected by highway construction or landslides triggered by such activity, are entitled to relief.
The matter arose after part of the NLU hostel, under construction in 2021, was buried under debris following a collapse during road cutting near the campus. NHAI argued that it was not liable, citing lack of policy to pay compensation for damages beyond its ROW jurisdiction. However, the bench pointed out that the Himachal Pradesh government had already notified on June 8, 2020, that landowners suffering losses beyond ROW are eligible for compensation, with claims to be assessed by a committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner.
The court has now tasked the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, to evaluate damages suffered by NLU and ensure that compensation is paid, either through NHAI or under the State Disaster Management Fund. The matter will next be heard on September 19, 2025.
The judgment comes at a time when the state is reeling under widespread devastation from heavy rains and landslides. Several families in Shimla, Kullu, Mandi and other districts have lost homes built precariously close to highways. Experts and local residents allege that unscientific cutting of fragile Himalayan slopes by highway contractors has magnified the destruction. Despite repeated red flags, construction practices often ignore natural drainage, slope stability and environmental safeguards, making nearby settlements highly vulnerable.
By recognizing compensation rights beyond ROW, the court has given hope to hundreds of affected people who have so far been left without relief despite losing homes, shops and farmland to highway collapses. Legal experts have hailed the order as a landmark in balancing infrastructure expansion with the rights and safety of mountain communities.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
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