Owners cannot be deprived of their right to property, says HC

RIGHTFUL COMPENSATION | State directed to pay compensation in six weeks to two brothers whose land in Panvel was acquired in 1970s for CIDCO project

- Urvi Mahajani

Observing that owners of property cannot be deprived of their precious right to property, the Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to pay within six weeks balance compensation to two brothers Ashok and Atul Puranik whose land in Panvel taluka was acquired in 1970s under the Land Acquisition Act for the CIDCO Navi Mumbai Town Project.

The court rapped the government for failures in the acquisition proceedings and the handling of affidavits, noting that the authorities' approach violated the landowners' constitutional right to property. However, the court said it would not impose cost on the state, "since it would be the taxpayer who would bear the burden for the conduct of the state's officials".

The court has also directed Ranjit, nephew of Puraniks to pay Rs5 lakh to each for filing 'frivolous and vexatious litigations' and dragging the case for years and depriving his uncles of their rightful compensation.