Counsel for the petitioners and court staff who went to the Bharathiar University to attach the university’s properties following delay in settlement of compensation for the lands acquired from land owners, faced non co-operation and resistance from the university staff.
From 1979 to 1982, efforts for land acquisition began in Marudamalai area for setting up the Bharathiar University campus. Close to 800 acres were acquired for the purpose. Stating that the compensation awarded for the lands was inadequate, land owners objected to the acquisition. Subsequently, the Government referred the issue to the court.
Meanwhile, land owners Murugesan and Mariappan filed a petition through their counsel S. Vijayakumar, challenging the acquisition and the compensation awarded to them stating that it was inadequate. The petitions were pending at various stages before the court for a long time.
In October 2007, the court awarded Rs 2,600 as compensation per cent with 30 per cent solatium and interest in various slabs such as 9, 12 and 15 per cent. The court directed the university in an award against it and said that the compensation should be deposited with the court in 60 days. With the university failing to award the compensation, the petitioners moved an execution petition in 2009 and in July 2012, the court ordered attachment of four cars, three jeeps, one bus, one truck and one maxi cab vehicle valued at Rs 33.60 lakh.
Mr.Vijayakumar said that when an effort was made to attach the properties, the previous vice-chancellor sought a week’s time but no action ensued thereafter.
On Monday, when the counsel for the petitioners, along with court staff, reached Bharathiar University to implement the order of the court by attaching the vehicles, the drivers refused to hand over the keys. Till late in the evening, the court staff and the counsel were waiting at the Bharathiar University.Mr. Vijayakumar said that if the University failed to abide by the court order, then police help would be sought on Tuesday to get the properties attached.
