What land is being acquired for NH 338 and where
The acquisition is for the national highway NH 338. It is being carried out by the Central Government under the National Highways Act 1956, and the notices appear in the central gazette, not the Tamil Nadu state gazette.
The land lies in two districts, Madurai and Sivagangai. Within them, three taluks are affected: Melur in Madurai district, and Singampunari and Thiruppattur in Sivagangai district.
In all, 778 survey numbers across 17 villages are covered by the notices. A survey number being listed means some or all of that land is proposed to be taken. The notice schedule gives the extent for each survey or subdivision number.
The notices and their stage
There are 20 notices in total. The first was published in May 2018 and the latest in May 2022. None of them has been fully withdrawn.
Ten of the notices are under section 3A. A section 3A notice states the Central Government's intention to acquire the listed land for the highway. After it is published, any person interested in the land may file objections under section 3C within 21 days, before the competent authority for land acquisition.
The other ten notices are declarations under section 3D. Once a section 3D declaration is published, the land described in it vests absolutely in the Central Government, free from all encumbrances. This is the stage at which ownership passes from the landowner.
Compensation under this Act is fixed by the competent authority after the land vests. If the amount is not accepted by either side, the Act allows the matter to be referred to an arbitrator appointed by the Central Government. These records do not show any compensation figures, so confirm the award for your land with the competent authority's office.
Villages list for NH 338 land acquisition
In Madurai district, Melur taluk: Saruguvalayapatti (101 survey numbers), Keelavalavu (87), Navinippatti (43), Keelaiyur (41), E.Malampatti (37), Sathamangalam (20), Melur [Urban] (16), Melur (5) and Thaniyamangalam (2).
In Sivagangai district, Thiruppattur taluk: Brahmanapatti (124 survey numbers), Tevarambur (93), Kattambur (74), Pattakurichi (57) and Thanipatti (27).
In Sivagangai district, Singampunari taluk: Mampatti North (43 survey numbers), Mampatti South (6) and Nainapatti (2).
No survey numbers have been withdrawn in any of these villages.
What to do if your land is listed
First, read the actual gazette notice for your village and check your survey number and subdivision against the schedule. Note whether your land appears only in a section 3A notice or also in a section 3D declaration.
If your land appears in a section 3D declaration, title has already passed to the Central Government for that extent. Your remedy now is compensation. Keep your patta, chitta, adangal, sale deeds and encumbrance certificate ready, and file your claim with the competent authority for land acquisition.
If you are a buyer, do not purchase any extent that falls within a 3D declaration. For a survey number that is only partly acquired, get the exact remaining extent confirmed from the revenue records and a survey sketch before paying any advance.
For the current status of any parcel, check with the competent authority for land acquisition for NH 338, or the Tahsildar's office of the concerned taluk.