In Brief
The TWAD Board entered land in Tamil Nadu in 1991 with the owner's consent to construct water supply infrastructure. After litigation, the High Court directed authorities to ensure fair compensation. The Board paid Rs.1.11 crore based on the District Collector's assessment. The owner then filed a contempt petition, and the Single Judge ordered Rs.4+ crore payment at Rs.600/- per sq. ft. The Supreme Court held the judge erred by travelling beyond the original order's scope and using contempt jurisdiction to impose arbitrary directions. The Court emphasized that contempt cannot substitute for regular appeals and public funds cannot be diverted through such proceedings.
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