(1.) All these Petitions involve identical issues and are being disposed of by this common Judgment and Order.
(2.) The Petitioners have questioned the legality and validity of the orders passed by the SDO rejecting their applications for payment of compensation. The Petitioners have also prayed for a writ of mandamus directing the SDO to refer the dispute to the Competent Court and to deposit the compensation in the said Court.
(3.) The State of Maharashtra proposed to develop the lands situated in villages Rohkal and Ambethan, Taluka Khed, Pune District as Chakan Industrial Area, phase 5. By notification dated 20.09.2003, issued in exercise of powers under Section 1(3) of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act, 1961, hereinafter referred to as the MID Act, the provisions of Chapter VI of the MID Act were made applicable with effect from 23.03.2005 to the lands as notified and declared to be industrial area. Notification under Section 32(2) of the MID Act was published in the Government Gazette dated 03.05.2007. Notices were also served upon the owners/interested persons to show cause why the proposed lands should not be acquired for industrial purpose. Upon complying with the mandatory procedure of personal hearing, notification dated 08.06.2017 under Section 32(1) of the MID Act came to be published in the Government Gazettes dated 8 to 14 June 2017, thereby vesting the said lands in the government free from all encumbrances on and from the date of such publication. In accordance with agreements between the State Government and the concerned Owners/Occupants, the Sub-Divisional Officer, Khed (SDO) vide Awards dated 16.09.2019 and 27.12.2019 determined compensation of the acquired land @ Rs.1,37,50,000/- per hector.