In Brief
Power Grid Corporation sought to erect high-voltage electricity transmission towers partly on land leased by Century Textiles for limestone mining in Chhattisgarh. The leaseholder opposed citing proximity to mining operations and loss of mineral reserves. The High Court allowed the towers but ordered the District Collector to assess compensation. The Supreme Court held that Power Grid, as a Central Transmission Utility with statutory powers under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885, could lawfully erect the transmission lines without the leaseholder's prior consent, as the project served critical national public interest. The Court dismissed the leaseholder's appeal but allowed Power Grid's appeal regarding compensation, ruling that disputes must be resolved by the District Judge, not the District Collector, under Section 16 of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885."
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