HYDERABAD, Aug 21: A division bench of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, on Wednesday directed the respondent of the department concerned of the Sindh government to call a meeting of a high-powered committee within two months so that payment to around 28 petitioners whose lands were acquired in connection with the Manchhar Lake could be ensured.

The order was passed on a constitutional petition, filed by the petitioners through Advocate Jhamatmal Jethanand.

The petitioners said that their lands in Dehs Yakubani, Fazlani, Maheji, Khabroth Rayati, Khabroth Jagir, Bilhan, Jaheja, Sehwan Taluka, in Dadu district were acquired in 1986-87 by Sindh for the Manchhar Lake.

They said that for the purpose of determining ownership rights of the affected Khatedars as well as compensation rates, the government appointed a high-powered committee, consisting of member, land utilization, chairman, board of revenue, Sindh, secretary, irrigation department, secretary, finance, and then deputy commissioner, Dadu, as members.

The petitioners said that the committee required the authorities to hold enquiries regarding ownership rights of the affected Khatedars and added that the entire claim of petitioners 1 to 5 and part claim of petitioner No6 was held to be correct but the claim of petitioners No6 to 18 was held under four categories, i.e. correct, suspicious, bogus and government land.

These petitioners (6 to 28) preferred appeals before the assistant commissioner which were upheld.

The matter was referred to the deputy commissioner for approval and in turn he forwarded it to a high-powered committee, they stated.

The petitioners argued that the committee again required revenue authorities to re-verify some claims and after this process it was finally decided in 1995 that the petitioners were owners of the lands.

It was decided by the Sindh government to pay compensation at the rate of Rs15,000 per acre in the shape of 10 per cent cash and the remaining amount through bonds.

The Sindh High Court earlier through its order of December 24, 1998 directed the respondents to convene a meeting of a high-powered committee within a month and decide the petitioners’ matter and in case of positive approval compensation may be made to them within two months.

The petitioners’ counsel said that the respondents again failed to make compliance of both the above orders and instead filed certain papers.

He added that the court had held the action of the respondents violative of the court order and prayed the court to order appropriate action against the respondents.

The court observed that in the interest of justice time is granted for two months for convening a meeting of a high-powered committee and deciding the matter of the petitioners.