1 2026:CGHC:25567 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 2943 of 2026 1 - Dinesh Dhruw S/o Of Malik Ram Dhruw Aged About 60 Years Resident Of Village Kukusda, Tahsil Pathariya, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh) 2 - Vijay Kumar, Son Of Manharan Aged About 60 Years Resident Of Village Kukusda, Tahsil Pathariya, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh) ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh The Secretary, Revenue Department Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Naya Raipur, District Raipur (C.G. 2 - State Of Chhattisgarh The Secretary Water Resources Department, Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar Naya Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.) 3 - Collector Mungeli, District Mungeli Chhattisgarh 4 - Sub Divisional Officer /land Acquisition Officer, Pathariya District Mungeli Chhattisgarh 5 - Tahsildar, Tahsil Pathariya, District Mungeli Chhattisgarh ... Respondent(s) (Cause Title is taken from CIS System) For Petitioner : Mr. Ramcharan Sahu, Advocate For State : Mr. Abhidhek Gupta, P.L. 2 Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order on Board 23.06.2026 1. By way of the present petition, the petitioners are aggrieved by the inaction on the part of the respondent authorities, whereby the lands belonging to the petitioners have been acquired for the purpose of Maniyari Bairaj Yojna in the submerged area, without granting any compensation therefor. The petitioners are, therefore, seeking a direction to the respondent authorities to consider their pending representations and to release and pay the compensation for the acquired land in accordance with the awarded compensation, along with interest @ 18% per annum from the date of acquisition till the date of actual payment. 2. Following reliefs have been prayed in this petition:- “10.1 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to direct the respondent authorities to consider pending representation of the petitioner within stipulated time, in the interest of justice. 10.2 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to direct the respondents authorities to make compensation on account of acquired lands of the petitioners as per provision of scheme of Bairaj Yojna year 2007, 2011, and 2018 and R & R Acquisition Act 2013 and also to issue direction to the respondent authorities to 3 pay such compensation with 18% interest at the earliest, in the interest of justice. 10.3 Any other relief which may be suitable in the facts and circumstances of the case, may also be granted.” 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that similarly situated land owners have already been granted compensation for the acquired lands; however, so far as the petitioner is concerned, no compensation has been granted despite the fact that his land has also been acquired for the same project. It is further submitted that the petitioner has already submitted an application for consideration of his claim, seeking parity and grant of compensation, which is presently pending consideration before the concerned Land Acquisition Officer, having been filed in the month of May, 2026. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the State submits that the petitioner’s claim is under consideration before the competent Land Acquisition Officer and appropriate decision shall be taken thereon in accordance with law. It is further submitted that the petitioner shall not be entitled to any relief at this stage and the petition is premature and liable to be disposed of with appropriate directions to the competent authority to decide the pending representation within a stipulated time. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 4 6. Considering the aforesaid aspect of the matter, the petitioner is directed to approach the concerned authorities along with all relevant documents in support of his claim, including those showing that similarly situated persons have already been granted compensation in respect of acquisition of land for Manihari Barrage. The concerned authority is further directed to consider and decide the petitioner’s claim in accordance with law, expeditiously, preferably within a reasonable time. 7. Accordingly, the petition is disposed of with a direction that the representation filed by the petitioner shall be considered and decided by the concerned authority within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order, in accordance with law. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case, and the concerned authority shall be at liberty to pass an appropriate order strictly in accordance with law, without being influenced by any observation made hereinabove. sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Judge Vishakha