Archive · 21 Jul 2026
High Court Awards Relief for 200 Trees After 38 Years
A long legal battle that started in 1988 has finally ended with the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The court decided that the state government must pay money for 200 Babool trees that were cut down for a bridge project.
The landowners had been fighting for 38 years to get this money.
The court said the landowners should get Rs 50,000 for the trees, but it did not change the amount of money they got for the land itself.
The state government argued that the sale deeds used to show the land's value were made after the land was taken, so they shouldn't be used.
The court agreed with the state on the land's value but said the trees' compensation was wrongly ignored and should be paid.
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered the State government to pay compensation for 200 Babool trees after a 38-year legal battle.
The dispute arose from land acquired in 1988 for the construction of the Hari Phatak overbridge.
The landowners sought enhancement of compensation, arguing that the land had commercial potential and that they were entitled to compensation for the trees.
The High Court agreed with the State on land valuation but found that the claim for the Babool trees was supported by revenue records and witness testimony.
The court directed the State to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation for the trees along with statutory interest.
- Who
- Landowners (Babulal and others) and the State Government of Madhya Pradesh
- What
- A legal battle over compensation for land and trees acquired for a public project
- When
- The land was acquired in 1988, and the High Court decision was made after a 38-year legal battle
- Where
- Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Why
- The landowners sought enhancement of compensation, arguing that the land had commercial potential and that they were entitled to compensation for nearly 200 Babool trees on the acquired land
Landowners
State Government
Compensation for Trees
Landowners
The landowners argued that they were entitled to compensation for nearly 200 Babool trees on the acquired land, supported by revenue records and witness testimony.
State Government
The State disputed the claim for compensation for the trees, arguing that the sale deeds relied upon were executed after the acquisition notification and therefore could not be considered for determining market value.
Land Valuation
Landowners
The landowners contended that the reference court had ignored sale deeds indicating a higher market value and had failed to decide their claim for compensation for the trees.
State Government
The State argued that the sale deeds relied upon were executed after the acquisition notification and therefore could not be considered for determining market value. The High Court agreed with the State on land valuation, holding that compensation must be based on the market value prevailing on the date of the acquisition notification.
- Location
- Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Court
- Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court
- Judge
- Justice Pavan Kumar Dwivedi
- Land Acquisition Year
- 1988
- Number of Trees
- 200 Babool trees
- Compensation Awarded
- Rs 50,000
- Legal Battle Duration
- 38 years
- Project
- Construction of the Hari Phatak overbridge