Disputed land-acquisition compensation claims must be decided by a reasoned order after hearing the landowners.

The petitioners sought compensation for 0.0382 hectares of land acquired for construction and widening of a master-plan road in Bhopal, claiming approximately ₹76.40 lakh and challenging the application of the State’s Transfer Development Right policy

The respondents had offered ₹30.56 lakh under the consent land-purchase policy and also offered increased Floor Area Ratio (FAR); the petitioners had not responded to the offer

The petitioners sought liberty to make a representation for appropriate compensation, while the State maintained that the offer reflected the prevailing market value

Whether the Court should determine the disputed quantum of compensation in the writ petition

Whether the petitioners should be permitted to seek a reasoned determination of their compensation claim from the competent authority

The petition was brought under Article 226 of the Constitution of India

The Court did not identify or apply any specific statutory compensation provision or precedent; it made no determination of the petitioners’ substantive entitlement and directed the competent authority to consider the dispute and pass a reasoned order in accordance with law

The parties disputed the adequacy of the ₹30.56 lakh offer, and the respondents also relied on the increased FAR offered and the alleged appreciation in value of the remaining land after road construction

Given these competing positions, the Court considered it appropriate for the competent authority—the Superintending Engineer, Capital Project Administration, Bhopal—to assess the claim after hearing the petitioners, rather than decide the compensation merits itself

It expressly left the merits open

The petitioners may submit a representation, with supporting details and their claimed amount, to respondent No. 7 within 15 working days. The authority must provide a hearing and issue a reasoned, speaking order within 60 days of receiving the representation, considering paragraphs 14 and 15 of the respondents’ return.

If the petitioners are found entitled to the claimed amount and agree to accept the amount finally calculated, it must be disbursed within a further 30 days.