Tamil Nadu Government Issues Landmark Compensation Order for Bharathiar University Farmers
In a historic move, the Tamil Nadu government has issued a Government Order (GO) on Saturday to provide long-awaited compensation to more than 1,100 small and marginal farmers. These farmers had parted with their land for the establishment of Bharathiar University, bringing relief to a struggle that has lasted nearly 45 years.
Decades-Long Legal Battle Culminates in Justice
Between 1979 and 1986, approximately 924 acres of land were acquired from farmers in Vadavalli, Somayampalayam, and Veerapandi villages for the university project. At the time, under prevailing land acquisition rules, the government fixed compensation at only 33 to 85 percent of the land value. Dissatisfied with this low compensation, the farmers approached a court in Coimbatore seeking fair payment.
Although the court ruled in favor of the farmers in 2002, the government challenged the verdict in the High Court and later in the Supreme Court, leaving the issue unresolved for over four decades. According to a 2007 court order, the government has now decided to pay compensation ranging from 2,300 to 3,300 percent of the original rates.
Political Advocacy and Protests Pave the Way
According to CPI(M) Coimbatore district secretary C P Padmanabhan, the party and the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam (farmers' association) carried out numerous protests to highlight the farmers' long-pending demand. In August 2025, a major protest was held in front of the Coimbatore collectorate under the leadership of state secretary P Shanmugam and farmers' association leaders.
Padmanabhan stated that the party consistently raised the issue with the chief minister and officials, advocating tirelessly for justice. Welcoming the announcement, members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam distributed sweets to the public at Kalveerampalayam in Coimbatore on Sunday, celebrating the victory.
Innovative Funding Mechanism for Compensation
As part of the solution, the government has decided to allot 195 acres of the university land to the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO). The ₹164 crore generated through this move will be paid as compensation to the farmers. Padmanabhan added that this announcement has brought immense happiness to farmers who had been waiting for justice for over four decades.
Remaining Concerns and Future Steps
However, some farmers have raised doubts regarding the interest calculations made by the government. They plan to meet the district collector to seek clarification on whether the interest has been calculated according to the court order. If any discrepancies are found, they intend to file an appeal through legal channels to ensure full compliance with the judicial directives.
This compensation order marks a significant milestone in addressing historical grievances related to land acquisition in Tamil Nadu, setting a precedent for fair treatment of farmers in similar cases across the state.
