Kumari Lekha v. South Eastern Coalfields Limited

NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR WPS No.6760 of 2016 Kumari Lekha, Daughter of late Shri Puran Das, aged about 25 years, resident of village Naraibodh, Tahsil Katghora, Civil and Revenue District Korba (CG).

---- Petitioner

Versus

1. South Eastern Coalfields Limited Through: Its Chairman And Managing Director, Head Office, Seepat Road, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur, (Chhattisgarh)

2. Chief General Manager, S.E.C.L., Gevra Area Korba, District Korba, (Chhattisgarh)

3. Staff Officer (Land Revenue) South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Gevra Area, Korba, District Korba (CG).

4. Collector, Korba, District Korba, (Chhattisgarh) ---- Respondents For Petitioner :

Ms. Seema Singh, Advocate For Respondents :

Shri V.R. Tiwari, Advocate For State :

Shri Avinash Singh, Panel Lawyer Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal Order On Board 14/12/2016 This petition has been filed by the petitioner who is claiming employment in lieu of acquisition of her land by respondent / Coal Company.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is

those, whose land is involved in acquisition proceedings. She has become landless with no source of livelihood. The award was passed in the year 2013. The petitioner has raised claim of employment with the respondent / company.

2.

According to the petitioner, she is entitled to employment under the rehabilitation policy dated 25/09/1991. Further submission of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the case of similarly situated land oustees came up for consideration before this Court in the case of Ku. Rattho Bai and anr. Vs. South Eastern Coalfields Limited and ors. in WPS No.432/2011 wherein this Court, after examining the grievance in the light of rehabilitation policy, passed an order on 23/07/2015 allowing the petition and directing the respondent / Coal company to provide suitable employment in terms of conditions incorporated in para 12 of the said order.

3.

Learned counsel appearing for the respondent / SECL on advance copy submits that till date, the respondent / coal company has not taken any decision on petitioner's claim for employment in lieu of acquisition of her land. It is submitted that the claim of the petitioner shall be examined in the light of order passed by this Court in the case of Ku. Rattho Bai (supra). If the petitioner, on verification of facts, is found to be identically and similarly situated, her claim shall also be considered.

4.

In view of aforesaid submission and order passed by this Court on 23/07/2015 in Ku. Rattho Bai (supra), at this stage, it would be

proper to dispose off this matter with a direction to respondent no.2 to examine the claim of the petitioner in the light of order dated 23/07/2015 passed in the case of Ku. Rattho Bai (supra). If upon verification of facts, the petitioner herein is found to be identically situated, her case shall also be considered for grant of employment as per the policy of rehabilitation.

5.

Considering that the matter relates to rehabilitation policy of land oustees, respondent No.2 is expected to take decision on the claim of petitioner within a period of 12 weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

6.

With the aforesaid observations/directions, this petition is finally disposed off.

Sd/- (Sanjay K. Agrawal) Judge L/-