Archive · 26 Jul 2026
Bombay HC Quashes Land Allotment to PAPs
The Bombay High Court recently made an important decision about a piece of land in Pune.
The court said that the government cannot give land to people who were affected by a project (called PAPs) before they properly buy the land and pay the original owner.
The court found that the government did not follow the rules.
They did not take control of the land or pay the owner, but still tried to give part of it to another family.
The court said this was not legal and canceled the decision.
They also told the government to find a different piece of land for the family that was supposed to get it.
This is important because it shows that the government must follow the rules when taking land for projects.
The Bombay High Court declared the acquisition of a Pune land parcel as lapsed and quashed its allotment to project-affected persons (PAPs).
The court found that the government did not take possession of the land or pay compensation to the original owner before allotting it to PAPs.
The acquisition of 1.61 hectares from Gat No. 1420 at Sikrapur village was declared lapsed under Section 24(2) of the Land Acquisition Act.
The court quashed the 2019, 2020, and 2022 orders allotting part of the disputed land to the Wadekar family.
The court directed the State government to reconsider the family's claim for rehabilitation land and pass a fresh allotment order within eight weeks.
- Who
- Bombay High Court, Namdev Khedkar (landowner), Laxman Wadekar's family (PAPs)
- What
- The Bombay High Court declared the acquisition of a Pune land parcel as lapsed and quashed its allotment to project-affected persons.
- When
- July 25, 2026
- Where
- Mumbai, India
- Why
- The government failed to lawfully acquire the land and compensate the original owner before allotting it to PAPs.
Landowner's Perspective
Government's Perspective
Land Acquisition Process
Landowner's Perspective
The land acquisition process was not completed lawfully, as the government did not take possession of the land or pay compensation to the original owner.
Government's Perspective
The government attempted to allot land to project-affected persons as part of a rehabilitation scheme, but failed to complete the necessary legal steps.
Allotment to PAPs
Landowner's Perspective
The allotment of land to PAPs was legally unsustainable and should be quashed.
Government's Perspective
The allotment was made in good faith to provide rehabilitation to project-affected persons, but the legal process was not followed correctly.
- Land Size
- 1.61 hectares
- Location
- Gat No. 1420, Sikrapur village, Shirur taluka, Pune
- Act
- Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013
- Petitioners
- Namdev Khedkar (landowner), Laxman Wadekar's family (PAPs)
- Judges
- Justices Manish Pitale and Shreeram Shirsat
- Project
- Chaskaman Irrigation Project