Dismissed

Damodhar Sadashiv Khot v. the State of Maharashtra and Others

Bombay HC12 Feb 2014PIL/79/2013

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petitioners sought quashing of administrative sanction for the Upla Storage Tank project or directions for rehabilitation. The court held it cannot question policy wisdom regarding dam feasibility but clarified that displacement requires compliance with the Land Acquisition Act and Maharashtra Rehabilitation Act, dismissing the petition due to no such apprehension.

What did the court decide?

Writ Petition and connected PILs disposed of; security amount refunded if deposited.

Damodhar Sadashiv Khot Vs the State of Maharashtra… — Environment and Pollution | Bombay HC (2014)

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WP/1240/2011 & ORS

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD

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WRIT PETITION NO. 1240 OF 2011

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SHIVLING NIVRUTTI SHETE VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAH AND ORS

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Advocate for Petitioner : Shri V.D.Salunke AGP for Respondent 1 : Shri V.D.Godbharale Advocate for Respondents 2 to 5 : Shri S,G.Sangle Advocate for Respondents 9 to 22 : Shri R.D.Raut Advocate for Respondents 23 to 31 : Shri P.R.Patil h/f Shri V.D.Deshmukh

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WITH

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PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 29 OF 2012 WITH

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PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 79 OF 2013

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DIGAMBAR UTARESHWAR BARKUL AND ANR VERSUS

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THE STATE OF MAH AND ORS

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Advocate for Petitioners : Shri V.D.Saluke AGP for Respondents 1, 6 to 8 : Shri Sujit G.Karlekar Advocate for Respondents 2 to 5 : Shri Umakant Patil

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CORAM : S.C.DHARMADHIKARI & RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, JJ. Dated: February 12, 2014

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PER COURT :-

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By this Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioners are seeking quashing of an administrative sanction granted to the Upla Storage Tank on Terna river by Government Resolution dated 16.8.2001. Alternately, they are seeking Writ of Mandamus or any other Writ or direction, directing the respondents to take appropriate steps as per the

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WP/1240/2011 & ORS

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provisions of the Maharashtra Project Affected Persons Rehabilitation Act, 1999 in order to rehabilitate such affected persons as could be displaced by the construction of dam or project styled as "Upla Storage Tank".

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We are of the opinion that in the light of the ad-interim order passed by this Court the only apprehension that the petitioners can possibly entertain is displacement or dispossession from their lands without following the due process of law.

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We cannot, in the garb of entertaining the Writ Petition, question the wisdom of policy adopted by the State or any scheme promulgated. Such measures or steps are essentially the policy decisions taken by the executive after evaluating all factors. It is not a matter where this Court can interfere with the decision of experts as to the location, need or feasibility of any project and particularly a dam. For these reasons, we cannot grant any relief in the Writ Petition, in so far as prayer clause (B) is concerned.

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However, as far as alternate prayer is concerned, we clarify that in the light of the affidavit filed in reply, there is no apprehension that the petitioners would be displaced or dispossessed from their lands without the mandate of requisite law being followed. In the event, the acquisition is by resorting to Land Acquisition Act, 1894 or the current enactment in the field, then the mandate of the same has to be followed and unless that is not followed, there is no question of petitioners being dispossessed. Equally, if any rehabilitation measures are to be taken and implemented, in view of the

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WP/1240/2011 & ORS

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provisions of the Maharashtra Project Affected Persons Rehabilitation Act, 1999 that would be taken as clarified in the affidavit-in-reply.

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For all these reasons, there is no apprehension of the petitioners being dispossessed unauthorizedly or without adherence to the rule of law, the Writ Petition does not survive and accordingly disposed off.

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In view of the aforesaid discussion, the Public Interest Litigations also stand disposed of.

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Security amount, if any deposited, be refunded to the petitioners.

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( RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J. ) ( S.C.DHARMADHIKARI, J. )

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akl

Damodhar Sadashiv Khot v. the State of Maharashtra and Others

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Damodhar Sadashiv Khot v. the State of Maharashtra and Others

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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