Bombay High Court
The Special Land Acquisition Officer, Special Unit No. 2, Pimpri,versusVIJAY PANDURANG BANKAR
- Decided
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The court granted the SLAO an extension of time until 30 September 2026 to complete the acquisition and pass the award, while ordering interim disbursement of the deposited amount and setting a deadline for the rental compensation hearing.
Summary
The Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO) applied for a six‑month extension to complete land acquisition and pass an award for lands belonging to the petitioners, as directed by the High Court on 30‑04‑2025. The court noted that the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) had delayed depositing 50% of the compensation and had not yet heard the petitioners' claim for rental compensation, despite a specific direction to do so within two months. PCMC subsequently deposited Rs 1,46,59,450 as its share of the tentative compensation and indicated that a hearing on rental compensation would be fixed within ten working days. The court ordered the SLAO to disburse the deposited amount to the petitioners within two weeks, and directed that the rental compensation matter be heard and decided by 31‑03‑2026. Considering the circumstances, the court granted the SLAO an extension of time until 30‑09‑2026 to complete the acquisition process and pass the award, and dismissed any further request for additional extensions.
Issues considered
- Whether the SLAO is entitled to an extension of time to complete land acquisition and pass the award.
- Whether the delay by PCMC in depositing 50% compensation and hearing rental compensation precludes granting the extension.
- Whether the court can order interim disbursement of the deposited compensation before final award.
- Whether any further extension beyond the granted period should be allowed.
Subjects
- land acquisition
- compensation
- rental compensation
- extension of time
- interim application
- High Court of Bombay
- award
Judgment
906_IA_943_26.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 943 OF 2026
IN
WRIT PETITION NO. 4640 OF 2022
The Special Land Acquisition Officer,
Special Unit No.II, Pimpri … Applicant/
Orig. Resp. No.3
In the matter between:
Vijay Pandurang Bankar and others … Petitioners
vs.
The State of Maharashtra, Through its Secy.,
Urban Development Department and others … Respondent
Ms. Madhavi Ayyapppan a/w. Mr. Vidyasagar Bhave, i/b. Talekar and
Associates for petitioners.
Ms. Vrishali Raje, AGP for respondent-State.
Mr. Rohit Sakhadeo for respondent No.2-PCMC.
Ms. Shubhada Patil, Planning Assistant.
CORAM : MANISH PITALE &
SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, JJ
DATE : 12th FEBRUARY, 2026
P.C. :
. This interim application is filed by the original respondent
No.3-Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO), seeking extension of
time for complying with the direction issued by this Court in an order
dated 30.04.2025, while disposing of Writ Petition No.4640 of 2022.
2. By the said order, a Division Bench of this Court had directed
the applicant (respondent No.3) to complete the process of
Digitally signed
PRIYA by PRIYA
KAMBLI
KAMBLI Date: 2026.02.12
17:50:22 +0530 acquisition and passing an award with regard to the lands belonging
to the petitioners on or before 31.03.2026. By this application, the
applicant is seeking extension of time by 6 months to comply with
the said order.
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906_IA_943_26.doc
3. When this application was listed on 04.02.2026 before this
Court, we were informed that one of the reasons why the applicant-
respondent No.3 may not be able to complete the process by
31.03.2026, was delay on the part of respondent No.2-Pimpri
Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (corporation) to deposit 50% of
the compensation amount. On the said date of hearing, a grievance
was also raised on behalf of the original petitioners that even the
aspect of rental compensation was not considered by the respondent
No.2-corporation, despite the specific direction issued in paragraph
No.12 of the order dated 30.04.2025 that the said respondent would
dispose of the representation of original petitioners, with regard to
their demand of rental compensation expeditiously and in any case,
within 2 months from the date of the order.
4. In that light, on 04.02.2026, we had called upon the learned
counsel appearing for the said respondent to take specific
instructions in the matter.
5. Today when the application is called out for hearing, the
learned counsel for respondent-corporation has tendered affidavit of
the Deputy Director, Town Planning Department of the respondent-
corporation. The same is taken on record.
6. The relevant contents of the said affidavit read as follows:
‘3. I say that, most of the relevant correspondence
between PCMC and the Concerned office/officers of
State Government is already part of the present
interim application. After receiving the
communication dated 18/11/2025 regarding the
amount of land acquisition compensation from the
SLAO, PCMC carried out further due process.
Thereafter, PCMC has deposited total amount of
Rs.13,30,83,000/- by cheque dated 6/02/2026 with
the SLAO by communication dated 6/02/2026.
Hereto annexed and marked as Exhibit R-1 (Colly)
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906_IA_943_26.doc
is the copy of cheque dated 6/02/2026 along with
communication dated 6/02/2026. The said amount
includes tentative amount of Rs.1,46,59,450/-
towards 50% share of compensation payable
towards land acquisition to the share of the
Petitioners.
4. As regards the issue of deciding the issue of rental
compensation application made by the Petitioner, it
is most respectfully submitted that, the Hon'ble
Municipal Commissioner will be fixing and
intimating date of hearing to the Petitioners. The
date of hearing will be within 10 working days from
today. The Petitioner's application for rental
compensation dated 14/05/2025 will be decided in
accordance with law after giving opportunity of
hearing to the Petitioners as directed by this Hon'ble
Court while disposing of the Petition. The decision
on the Petitioner's application will be taken by
commissioner on priority and as early as possible
after hearing takes place on the Petitioner's
application.
5. I further say that, the time consumed in taking steps
as regards the Petitioner's application for rental
compensation was not intentional. Even as regards
the depositing of 50% of tentative amount with
SLAO, the time consumed was due to the
administrative process, necessary correspondence
etc. The time taken/delay for the same was not
intentional. PCMC including its Municipal
Commissioner has the highest respect towards the
orders passed by this Hon'ble Court.’
7. The learned counsel for the respondent-corporation submits
that the above-quoted contents of the affidavit, are self-explanatory
and that the officials of respondent-corporation shall abide by the
undertakings given to this Court.
8. We find that the amount of ₹ 1,46,59,450/- towards 50%
share of the compensation payable to the petitioners, has been
deposited with the applicant/respondent No.3-SLAO. This is towards
the tentative calculation of compensation payable to the petitioners.
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906_IA_943_26.doc
We see no impediment in directing the applicant/respondent No.3 to
disburse the said amount to the petitioners, subject to determination
of final compensation amount. The said amount shall be disbursed to
the petitioners within two weeks from today.
9. As regards the aspect of rental compensation, the above-
quoted portion of the affidavit of the respondent-corporation clearly
shows that first hearing with regard to the said claim of the original
petitioners will be fixed on any date upto 20.02.2026. Respondent-
corporation shall abide by the said statement.
10. We further direct that the process of hearing and passing order
on the representation dated 14.05.2025 of the original petitioners,
seeking grant of rental compensation, shall be completed on or
before 31.03.2026. No further extension of time shall be granted.
11. As regards the prayer in this application filed on behalf of
applicant/respondent No.3 for extension of time to abide by the
direction contained in the order dated 30.04.2025, for completing
the acquisition process and passing of award, in the facts and
circumstances of the present case, we are inclined to grant the
prayer.
12. Accordingly, the application is allowed in terms of prayer
clause (a). Consequently, the applicant is granted extension of time
till 30.09.2026 to abide by the direction issued in the order dated
30.04.2025 passed by this Court.
13. The application is disposed of.
(SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, J) (MANISH PITALE, J.)
Priya Kambli
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