Bombay High Court
PUNDALIK RAMA JADHAV AND ORS.versusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA , A.G.P. KOLHAPUR AND ORS.
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The Court directed the respondents to decide the representation dated 11‑12‑2025 within three weeks of the order.
Summary
The petitioners, whose land was acquired in 1986, filed three representations to the Land Acquisition Officer under Section 28A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, seeking enhancement of compensation in line with Land Reference No. 29 of 1996. The first representation was filed on 28 June 2006, the second on 9 March 2018, and the third on 11 December 2025, but none had been adjudicated. The petitioners approached the Bombay High Court seeking a direction that the respondents decide the pending representation within a fixed period. The Court examined whether it could issue such a mandatory direction under its writ jurisdiction. It held that the delay was unreasonable and that the Court could compel the authorities to act, directing the respondents to decide the representation dated 11‑12‑2025 within three weeks of the order. The petition was allowed.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court can direct the respondent authorities to adjudicate pending representations filed under Section 28A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 within a specified time‑bound period
Legislation cited
- Land Acquisition Act, 1894 — s. 28A
Subjects
- Land Acquisition
- Compensation Enhancement
- Section 28A
- Writ Petition
- Time-bound adjudication
- Bombay High Court
- Representation
- Land Reference No. 29 of 1996
Judgment
9-WP-3875-2026.doc
Digitally signed
by HARISH
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
HARISH VITHAL
VITHAL CHAUDHARI
CHAUDHARI Date:
CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR
2026.08.24
20:19:34 +0530 CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 3875 OF 2026
Pundalik Rama Jadhav And Others ...Petitioners.
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra ,
AGP Oice, Kolhapur And Others ...Respondents.
——————
Mr. Rushikesh Gajanan Patil for the Petitioners.
Mr. Siddheshwar B. Kalel, AGP for the Respondent-State.
——————
Coram : Sharmila U. Deshmukh &
Neeraj P. Dhote, JJ.
Date : August 24, 2026.
P. C. :
1. The petitioner seeks a direction to the respondent authorities to
decide the representations iled by the petitioner in a time-bound
period. The irst representation was iled on 28.06.2006, the second
representation on 09.03.2018, and the third representation on
11.12.2025. These representations are iled with the Land Acquisition
Oicer under Section 28A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, for
enhancement of the compensation amount as per Land Reference No.
29 of 1996. The petitioner's land has been acquired in the year 1986 and
the petitioner is seeking parity in accordance with the Reference No. 29
of 1996. Though representations are made, there does not appear to be
Harish 1 of 2
9-WP-3875-2026.doc
any adjudication of the representations.
2. In light of the above, we deem it it to direct respondent Nos. 2
and 3 to decide the petitioner's representation dated 11.12.2025
expeditiously, and in any event within a period of three weeks from
today, in accordance with the law.
3. The petition is allowed in the above terms.
[Neeraj P. Dhote, J.] [Sharmila U. Deshmukh, J.]
Harish 2 of 2
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