Shimla, Oct. 8 -- The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the Union of India and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Thursday to pay interest to landowners on compensation that was delayed for land acquired for the four-laning and expansion of National Highway-72 under the Paonta Sahib-Ballupur bypass project in Sirmaur district.

Justice Sandeep Sharma, while hearing a petition filed by Deepak Bareja and another landowner, directed the authorities to pay interest at the rate of 7.5 per cent per annum for the 367-day delay between February 14, 2022, and February 16, 2023.

The land in question is situated at Mohal Bhuppur-II in Paonta Sahib tehsil of Sirmaur district and was acquired under the National Highways Act, 19...