1 2026:CGHC:6229 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 1345 of 2026 1 - Smt. Shanti Bai Wd/o Baldau Vastrakar, Aged About 65 Years R/o Pendari, P.O./ P.S./ Tahsil Sakri, District Bilaspur C.G. --- Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Department Of Forest, Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar, District Raipur C.G. 2 - Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest, Aranya Bhawan, Sector-19, North Block, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur C.G. 3 - Chief Conservator Of Forest, Bilaspur Circle, District Bilaspur (C.G.) 4 - Divisional Forest Officer, Kanon Pendari Forest Division, District Bilaspur C.G. 5 - Operator, Achanakmarg- Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Koni Bilaspur C.G. --- Respondent(s) (Cause title is taken from CIS system) For Petitioner : Mr. Ritesh Verma, Advocate For Respondents/State : Ms. Shailja Shukla, Govt. Advocate Hon'ble Shri Justice Parth Prateem Sahu Order On Board 04/02/2026 1. Learned counsel for petitioner submits that husband of petitioner late Baldau Vastrakar while working as daily wager employee at Kanan Pendari, Bilaspur within the respondents/State authorities died in harness on 30.11.2000. Petitioner thereafter had made an oral request for grant of ex-gratia amount, however, it was not considered and thereafter, petitioner submitted representation to the Director of Achanakmar – Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Koni, Bilaspur, which till date is pending consideration. He contended that claim of petitioner BALRAM PRASAD DEWANGAN Digitally signed by BALRAM PRASAD DEWANGAN Date: 2026.02.07 11:43:47 +0530 2 is based on the circular issued by the State Government on 23.02.2019 bearing No.F-7-1/2019/1-3, wherein Clause -17 of the circular specifically provides for grant of lump sum amount of Rs.1,00,000/- as compassionate ex-gratia amount. He submits that direction be issued to Director, Achanakmar Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Koni Bilaspur to take decision on the claim of petitioner at the earliest within specified time frame. 2. Learned State counsel submits that as petitioner is not pressing this petition on merits and is only seeking a direction to Director, Achanakmar Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Koni Bilaspur to take decision on the pending representation, he is having no objection. 3. At this stage, learned counsel for petitioner submits that petitioner may be permitted to submit fresh representation raising all the grounds as raised in the writ petition before respondent No.4 as also the Director, Achanakmar Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Koni Bilaspur. 4. On due consideration on the submission of learned counsel for respective parties, this writ petition is disposed of permitting petitioner to submit fresh representation before respondent No.4 and Director, Achanakmar Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Koni Bilaspur and in the event, petitioner submits such representation, concerned authorities shall consider and take decision on the claim of petitioner in accordance with law expeditiously preferably within further period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of representation and this order. 5. With the aforesaid observations and direction, this petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (Parth Prateem Sahu) Judge Balram