Authorities Must Initiate Land Acquisition Proceedings and Determine Compensation for Land Utilized in Submergence Areas.

The fifteen petitioners are agriculturists and landowners in Village Nagaridih, District Janjgir-Champa.

They alleged that their lands were submerged due to the construction of the Basantpur Barrage over the Mahanadi River.

Despite submitting representations to the Collector on October 16, 2025, and December 19, 2025, requesting compensation, no land acquisition proceedings were initiated by the respondent authorities.

The petitioners approached the High Court seeking a direction for time-bound disposal of their claims, citing parity with previous judicial orders in similar matters.

1. Whether the petitioners are entitled to a time-bound direction for the respondent authorities to verify claims, initiate land acquisition proceedings, and determine compensation for lands submerged by the Basantpur Barrage project.

Article 226 of the Constitution of India regarding the High Court's power to issue directions to state authorities.

The principle of parity and judicial consistency, specifically following the precedent set by a coordinate Bench of the Chhattisgarh High Court in Surendra Kumar and Others vs. State of Chhattisgarh and Others (WPC No. 2468 of 2023), decided on June 14, 2023.

Where private land is utilized for public projects (specifically the Basantpur Barrage), the State is under an obligation to verify claims and initiate formal acquisition proceedings to determine compensation within a stipulated timeframe.

The court noted that the petitioners’ grievance and the underlying facts were identical to the issues resolved in Surendra Kumar and Others vs. State of Chhattisgarh and Others.

Counsel for the State did not dispute the prayer for the matter to be decided in line with the earlier precedent.

If the petitioners' lands were indeed utilized as a submergence area for the Barrage, the State is legally bound to formalize the acquisition and compensate the owners.

The respondent authorities are directed to verify the petitioners' claims, initiate land acquisition proceedings if necessary, and determine the compensation due if the land was utilized for the Basantpur Barrage submergence area within 90 days from the date of filing the representation.

All pending interlocutory applications were dismissed.