Bombay High Court

BHIKU SOPAN PATILversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANOTHER

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The Court directed the respondent to decide the petitioner’s representation within four weeks and to endeavour to pay the awarded compensation within eight weeks.

Summary

The petitioner, Bhiku Sopan Patil, alleged that his land was taken in 1998 and that a compensation award was passed on 25 May 2022, but no compensation had been paid to date. He filed a representation with the Sub-Divisional Officer (respondent No.2) on 22 April 2025, which remained undecided. The petitioner sought relief through a writ petition before the Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench. The Court examined the delay in payment of compensation and the pending representation, finding that the petitioner’s rights under the land acquisition process were being infringed. Accordingly, the Court disposed of the writ petition, directing the respondent to decide the representation within four weeks and to make an endeavour to pay the compensation within eight weeks of receiving the order.

Issues considered

Whether the State is liable to pay compensation awarded for land acquisition taken in 1998.
Whether the delay in deciding the petitioner’s representation violates his statutory rights.
Whether the High Court can direct the administrative authority to decide the representation and expedite compensation payment.

Subjects

land acquisition
compensation
writ petition
administrative delay
right to property
High Court

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:42969-DB
                                                    1                          182.doc



                           IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                    BENCH AT AURANGABAD
                           182 WRIT PETITION NO. 12920 OF 2025

                                BHIKU SOPAN PATIL
                                     VERSUS
                     THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANOTHER
                                              …
           Advocate for the Petitioner : Mr. Yogesh C. Patil h/f Mr. More Abhijit S.
                         AGP for Respondent/State : Mr. B.B. Bhise
                                               …
                                            CORAM       : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND
                                                          ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
                                              DATE      : 21.09.2026

               PER COURT :
               .         Though, the possession of the land of the petitioner is taken
               way back in the year 1998 and the award is passed on 25.05.2022,
               however, till date no compensation is paid to the petitioner.

               2.       The petitioner, therefore, made a representation to respondent
               No.2/SDO on 22.04.2025. The same is not yet decided.

               3.       Writ Petition is, therefore, disposed of by directing respondent
               No.2 to decide the representation of the petitioner within a period of
               four (04) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order and to
               make an endeavour to pay compensation to the petitioner within a
               period of eight (08) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this
               order.



               ( ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J. )                ( NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J. )


   vsj..

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