Kerala High Court Rules on Dispute over Competent Authority under NH Act and Reference to Civil Court

The Kerala High Court resolved a dispute regarding the competent authority under the National Highways Act and whether civil courts have jurisdiction to entertain certain disputes. The Court clarified the statutory scheme, concluding that specific matters related to highways fall under the exclusive domain of designated authorities, limiting civil court intervention unless expressly permitted by law. This ruling delineates administrative authority powers vis-à-vis judicial review, reinforcing procedural exclusivity and expeditious resolution principles within infrastructure and public works contexts.