GOVIND KONDIBA TANPURE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This public interest litigation, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is instituted by the petitioners, who claim to be residents of village Dhangawadi, Taluka Bhor, District Pune. The petitioners seek redress for grievances related to the allotment of land to respondent No. 5, requesting the cancellation of the allotment, an inquiry into the alleged illegalities in the land allotment process, and the transfer of the land to individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Economically Backward Classes.

(2.) The subject matter of this public interest litigation concerns land located in Gat No. 237 in village Dhangawadi, Taluka Bhor, District Pune, measuring 14 hectares and 35 ares, as described in paragraph 6 of the petition. The petitioners stated that on 2/3/1993, the District Collector, Pune, reserved a portion of this land measuring 0.04 hectares for a Muslim community burial ground (Kabristan). Subsequently, on 26/9/1994, an area of 0.40 hectares was allotted to the Divisional Engineer, Telephones. On 23/12/1994, the District Collector, Pune, approved a scheme for impoverished individuals belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Village Extension Scheme, reserving 2 hectares and 92 ares of land from Gat No. 237 for the implementation of this scheme.

(3.) According to Petitioners, On 1/3/1995, respondent No. 3 appointed the Taluka Inspector of Land Records, Bhor, to measure the land and demarcate 110 plots for allotment to poor individuals from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Village Extension Scheme. The Inspector of Land Records conducted the measurement on 20/6/1995, demarcating 110 plots. On 22/3/1995, an amount of Rs.4,700.00 was sanctioned for implementing the Village Extension Scheme and was disbursed by the Tahsildar, Bhor. However, the 110 plots were not handed over to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes community members.