Andhra Pradesh settles four-decade land dispute affecting nearly 59 acres

A National Lok Adalat has brought closure to a protracted land dispute in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, that has lingered for over 40 years. The alternative dispute resolution forum settled 24 appeals that were pending before the Gurazala court, clearing the backlog of cases related to land acquisition undertaken in 1983.

The land in question, totalling 58.97 acres, was originally acquired for the establishment of a power sub-station. The settlement arrived at during the Lok Adalat proceedings fixed compensation at ₹23,000 per acre for the affected landowners, providing a resolution to years of litigation and uncertainty.

The National Lok Adalat mechanism, which facilitates out-of-court settlements in civil disputes, has proven effective in resolving such long-pending matters by bringing together all stakeholders for negotiated settlements. The resolution is expected to provide relief to the landowners who had been awaiting compensation and clarity on their property claims.

The settlement marks a significant step in addressing the backlog of land acquisition disputes in the state, where such cases often extend over multiple decades due to procedural complexities and protracted legal proceedings.