VISHNU J. BHALERAO Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Learned AGP waives service for Respondent No. 4. Learned counsel for Union of India and National Highways Authority waives service for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3. Rule made returnable forthwith. Taken up for final disposal with consent.

(2.) By this Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the Petitioner is challenging the impugned Order dtd. 10/01/2022 passed by the Deputy Collector, Special Land Acquisition Officer No. 13 Pune (Respondent No. 4) in Petitioner's case No. 20/2021. The Petitioner is also seeking a direction to the Respondents to pass a Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Order/Award u/s. 31 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (for short, 'the 2013 Act'), as per Government of India guidelines dtd. 28/12/2017 read with Ordinances dtd. 31/12/2014, 03/04/2015, 30/05/2015 and Order dtd. 28/08/2015 issued by the Ministry of Rural Development. The Petitioner further seeks a direction to the Respondents to actually grant a Rehabilitation and Resettlement benefit amount along with statutory benefits such as solatium under Sec. 30 and interest under Sec. 72 and 80 of the 2013 Act or 12 % equitable interest from the date of Award.

(3.) From the nature of prayers as set out above, it can be seen that the Petitioner is seeking comprehensive reliefs in respect of his claim under Sec. 31 of the 2013 Act on merits.