Benganga Project Land Claims: Chhattisgarh HC Directs Officials To Complete Acquisition And Pay Compensation If Petitioners’ Lands Were Acquired, Preferably Within Six Months

The petitioners sought completion of land-acquisition proceedings relating to their lands allegedly affected by the Benganga Jalashay Yojana at Village Natwar Nagar, and payment of compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

They contended that the authorities had taken possession in 2014 but had neither completed the acquisition nor paid compensation.

They relied on a coordinate Bench’s order in WPC No. 6273/2024, concerning the same project, and the State agreed that the petition could be disposed of on the same terms.

The petitioners invoked Sections 26, 29 and 30, read with Schedule I, and Section 80 of the 2013 Act, seeking determination of compensation and interest.

The Court did not interpret or decide the application of those provisions. It followed the coordinate Bench’s approach in WPC No. 6273/2024: where land is acquired and affected by the project, the authorities should conclude the acquisition proceedings and pay compensation in accordance with law, without the Court determining entitlement on the merits at that stage.

The parties accepted that the present dispute was similar to the earlier petition concerning the same Benganga Jalashay Yojana.

Applying the coordinate Bench’s approach, the Court directed completion of the proceedings and payment only if the petitioners’ lands had in fact been acquired and affected by the project.

It did not decide the petitioners’ entitlement to compensation, determine its amount, or rule on their claim for interest.

The authorities were directed to act at the earliest, preferably within six months from receipt of a copy of the order.

The petition was disposed of with those directions.