SHRI. BHALCHANDRA CHINTAMAN DEO AND ORS vs THE SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER NO. 24, PUNE AND ORS

Judgment text excerpt

WP_6353_12.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 6353 OF 2012 Bhalchandra Chintaman Deo & ors. … Petitioners vs. The Special Land Acquisition Officer, Pune & ors. … Respondents Mr. Anil V. Anturkar, Senior Advocate, a/w. Mr. Ranjit D. Shinde and Mr. Kashish Chelani for petitioners. Dr. Milind Sathe, Advocate General, a/w. Smt. S. D. Vyas, Addl. GP and Mr.Rajan S. Pawar, AGP for respondent No.1-SLAO. Mr. Kedar B. Dighe for respondent No.2A-PCMC. Mr. Milind M. Mahajan for respondent No.2B-PMRDA. Mr. Nitesh Bhutekar a/w. Mr. Aaditya M. for respondent No.4. Mr. Abhaykumar Apte for respondent No.7(a). CORAM : MANISH PITALE & MANJUSHA DESHPANDE, JJ RESERVED ON : 23rd DECEMBER, 2025 PRONOUNCED ON: 09th MARCH, 2026 JUDGEMENT (Per Justice Manish Pitale): . By this writ petition, the petitioners initially raised their claim for release of 25.39 acres of land belonging to them and acquired by the State, located in Survey No.210 in Village Wakad, Taluka Mulshi, District Pune, on the ground that while it was acquired for public purpose, it was subsequently being given to private parties. The petitioners also sought quashing of an advertisement notice issued in a newspaper by the original respondent No.2-Pimpri Chinchwad New Township Development Authority (hereinafter referred to as PCNTDA), whereby parts of the said land were put up for sale for residential, commercial and/or industrial purpose by granting leases of 99 years. The thrust of the contentions raised on behalf of the 1/43 WP_6353_12.doc petitioners was that giving away land to private parties, after acquiring the same ostensibly for public purpose, was in the teeth of law laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Royal Orchid Hotels Limited and another vs. G. Jay