Litigant whose land was illegally occupied by state 60 years ago gets relief from Supreme Court

The Supreme Court in the case In Re: T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad Versus Union Of India And Ors observed and has granted the relief in the form of alternate land to the litigant whose land was illegally occupied by Maharashtra authorities 60 years ago on September 09, 2024.

The bench comprising of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan was hearing the present matter.

The bench directed the state authorities to deliver peaceful and vacant possession of the alternate land (which is agreed to be accepted by the aggrieved applicant) as compensation.

In the present case, an interlocutory application was filed by the litigant, wherein it claimed that his predecessors-in-interest purchased a 24-acre land in Pune in 1950s. When the land is occupied by the state government, they instituted a suit and won all the way up to the Supreme Court. The decree was sought to be executed, but the state made a statement that the land had been given to a Defence Institute. Therefore, the Defence Institute, on its part, claimed that it was not a party to the dispute and thus, could not be evicted.