The owners of land in Zurrieq expropriated in 1973 have been awarded €13,000 in compensation after a court ruled that their right to enjoyment of property had been violated.

Siblings Guza, Frans and Nina Gauci told the court they owned 285 square metres of land in Zurrieq, which land was expropriated by the government in 1973. 

The authorities had not made any use of the land and it was clear that there had been no need for the land to be expropriated for public purpose.  Neither had the family been awarded any compensation.

This, said the Gauci family, was in violation of their fundamental human rights to enjoyment of their property.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Anthony Ellul  ruled that the family had proven its title to the land. 

The family had even filed a judicial letter against the Commissioner asking for compensation, but the only reply it had received was that the authorities were to examine their position.  It was only 41 years later, in the course of these constitutional proceedings that the authorities had realised that they had no need for the land and released it in favour of the family.