Sikkim High Court: A Single Judge Bench comprising of CJ Vijai Kumar Bist, disposed of a writ petition on carefully observing that an alternative remedy under the Sikkim Greenfield Airport, Pakyong (Settlement of Claims for Loss and Damages) Act, 2018 is available for claiming compensation by filing a claim petition thereunder.
In the present petition, the petitioner had started to construct his house on a plot at Karthok Block, Pakyong, East Sikkim. He had constructed a protective wall in order to withstand the natural calamities. Petitioner on completion of the construction of ground floor found that all the walls of the ground floor had developed many major and minor cracks.
The Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the damaged building was assessed by the Buildings and Housing Department, Government of Sikkim for Rs 65,41,062 and he was entitled to the same from the State Authority. High Court’s order for complying with same was not adhered to which led to the filing of the contempt petition before this Court.
An additional submission was that the respondents had paid compensation to other affected persons except for the petitioner.
Thus, the Court noted the submissions of the parties and reached a conclusion by stating that the petitioner is entitled to compensation for the loss and damage suffered by him, but same cannot be awarded to him by issuing direction in this petition due to the alternative remedy available to him under the Sikkim Greenfield Airport, Pakyong (Settlement of Claims for Loss and Damages) Act, 2018. The writ petition was accordingly disposed of. [Hantey Gyatso Kazi v. State of Sikkim,2018 SCC OnLine Sikk 233, dated 15-11-2018]
