HYDERABAD, Nov 20: A division bench of the Sindh High Court Hyderabad circuit here on Tuesday directed secretaries of Irrigation and Finance, Sindh, to appear in person in case the payment of compensation was not made to two petitioners under the Land Acquisition Act on Nov 27.

The bench said that the non compliance of today’s order would be considered as defiance of the authority of the court.

The bench comprising Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany.

The order was passed by the bench on two separate petitions filed by Syed Khadim Hussain Shah and Syed Ghulam Shah through Ghulam Rasool Qureshi, advocate.

On Nov 14, the court had directed the managing director of Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority and the executive engineer, Thar division, Mirpurkhas, to personally appear before the court on Nov 20 in the matter, claiming compensation of land acquisition award amounting to more than Rs1.1 million.

Additional Advocate General of Sindh Masood A. Noorani informed the court that the MD has sent his intimation, expressing inability to attend the court for he was holding an important meeting with army officials.

The petitioners have prayed the court for payment of compensation of Rs8,28,000 and Rs3,03,812, respectively, for their lands acquired by the respondents.

The court on Tuesday noted that on March 14, it had directed the secretaries of Finance and Irrigation departments to inform the court within three weeks how much amount was to be paid to the petitioners.

But no report was sent to the court.

The Sindh AAG on April 18, had sought time from the court to seek directives in the matter. The court noted that it was an undue advantage taken by the respondents as despite lapse of 8 months no progress has been made in the matter.

They claimed their lands were acquired by respondents along with many other Khatedars for re-alignment of the Nara Canal in Deh Kala, Sanghar district.