Shimla, Oct. 15 -- The Himachal Pradesh high court has directed the state government to initiate land acquisition proceedings and pay adequate compensation to a landowner whose six bighas of land in Sirmaur district were used for road construction in 2008 without formal acquisition or payment.

Disposing of a writ petition filed by Bali Ram, justice Sandeep Sharma directed the concerned authorities to complete the acquisition process within two months after carrying out proper demarcation of the land.

The case pertains to land situated in Mohal Borar of Shillai tehsil in Sirmaur district, which was used for constructing the Lani-Borar road. The petitioner approached the HC alleging that despite the land being used for a public road for n...