A Relief to a Litigant Whose Land was Illegally Occupied by the Maharashtra Government in the Form of Alternate Land, Pursuant to SC’s Intervention

On September 09, 2024 (Yesterday), a litigant whose land was illegally occupied by the Maharashtra authorities got relief in the form of an alternate land. Earlier in August this year, the bench of Justice BR Gavai, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice KV Viswanathan was hearing the TN Godavarman case relating to an omnibus forest protection matter. While hearing the case, the bench came across the issue where a person’s property was illegally occupied by the Maharashtra Government and no proper compensation was provided. The bench on August 07, 2024, criticized the Maharashtra Government for not filing an affidavit on the compensation given in a case where the State illegally occupied a person's property. Yesterday, the Top Court was notified that the applicant agreed to accept the alternate land offered by the Maharashtra authorities as per its undertaking. The SC bench accepted the undertaking and additionally directed:

• “The Collector, Pune shall personally ensure that 24 acres, 38 gunthas of land is measured and demarcated;
• After the demarcation, peaceful and vacant possession of the said land is handed over to the applicant; and
• If there are any encroachments on the alternate land, the same shall be removed prior to the land being handed over to applicant.”