Hanumant Sadashivrao Khandagale v. the State of Maharashtra through District Collector and Others
Case brief
What is this about?
Aurangabad bench writ petition disposed with administrative directions for reconstruction and forwarding of an unforwarded/misplaced land acquisition reference file. Key terms: Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act; land reference filed 18/02/2006 (Exhibit-A); award dated 13.11.2005; reference dated 30.01.2006 received by Land Acquisition Officer on 18.02.2006; Special Land Acquisition Officer / Deputy Collector, Degloor, District Nanded; Reference Court Civil Judge Senior Division Mukhed (also rendered Mudkhed); no entry of receipt of files at Kandhar and Mudkhed courts; related matters W.P. Nos. 14097, 14116 and 14132 of 2024; delay attributable to forwarding authority and not petitioner; preferential and expedited disposal; Court fees stamp receipt endorsement. Neutral citation: 2026:BHC-AUG:12116-DB.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition disposed of with directions: the file of the land reference filed on 18/02/2006 to be reconstructed (if not found) by the Deputy Collector/Special Land Acquisition Officer, Degloor, within fifteen days with the petitioner's cooperation, and forwarded/presented to the appropriate Court within the next fifteen days; a true copy of Exhibit 'A' with the receipt endorsement and Court fees stamp to be annexed to the reference; the Reference Court to consider the award/reference dates and dispose of the matter expeditiously with preference.