Masat Ram v. The Union Of India

HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR WPC No. 1913 of 2021 • Masat Ram S/o Late Shri Shiv Prasd Aged About 81 Years R/o Village Bijari Tehsil Gharghoda, District- Raigarh (C.G.) ---- Petitioner

Versus

1. The Union Of India Through Ministry Of Coal, Rajpath Area, Central Secretariat, New Delhi 110001

2. SECLl Through Its Chairman-Cum-Managing Director Seepat Road, Bilaspur (C.G.)

3. South Eastern Coalfields Limited Raigarh Area Through Its General Manager, Kelo Vihar Raigarh Tehsil And District Raigarh (C.G.)

4. Collector, Raigarh, District Raigarh (C.G.)

5. Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) Cum Land Acquisition Officer, Gharghoda District Raigarh (C.G.) ---- Respondents ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Petitioner :

Shri Surfaraj Khan, Advocate For Respondent/ State :

Shri Siddharth Dubey, Dy. G.A.

For SECL :

Shri Pankaj Agrawal, Advocate Hon'ble Shri Justice Goutam Bhaduri Order on Board 14.06.2021 Heard

1. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner's land has been acquired by the respondent No. 2- South Eastern Coal Fields Limited (SECL), under the provisions of Coal Bearing Act(Acquisition and Development Act), 1957 (for short the "Act of 1957") in lieu of which neither

compensation has been paid to the petitioner nor rehabilitation has been provided to him till date. The petitioner has also made representations before the competent authorities but it has not been considered and decided till date. He would further submit that respondents are not taking cognizance of the memo dated 04.08.2017 issued by Government of India in which certain clarifications have been issued.

2. I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner.

3. The prayer appears to be fair and reasonable and is accordingly allowed.

4. Considering the facts of the case, the petitioner is given liberty to make a fresh representation to Respondents No. 2 & 3 within a period of 3 weeks from today and if such representation is filed, Respondents No. 2 & 3 are directed to decided the representation strictly in accordance with law within a further period of 3 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the representation. The respondents are also directed to take cognizance of the memo dated 04.08.2017 issued by the Government of India.

5. With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition is accordingly disposed of. No order as to cost(s).

Sd/- (Goutam Bhaduri) Jyoti Judge