Court orders confiscation of collector’s chair over non-payment of land compensation

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The court had ordered payment of enhanced compensation of Rs 2 crore for agricultural land acquired for the Wakod project in Phulambri. As the amount was not paid, the court issued a warrant for confiscation of the chair of the district collector of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Accordingly, a bailiff along with advocates reached the district collector’s office to carry out the attachment. However, the action was temporarily stayed after the minor irrigation department gave a written assurance to deposit the amount within eight weeks.

What was the claim?

Farmers from Leha Jahangir village in Phulambri, including Bajrang Tatu (deceased), Rupchand Tatu (deceased) and their legal heirs, had filed the original claim. Their agricultural land was acquired for the Wakod medium project. As they did not receive adequate compensation, they sought enhanced compensation. When their efforts failed, the farmers approached the court. In 2022, the civil court directed payment of Rs 2 crore 22 lakh 61 thousand as enhanced compensation. The original case dates back to 2006, and despite the court order in 2022, the amount was not paid. As a result, the complainant farmers filed an execution application.

Expressing displeasure over non-compliance with the order, the court issued a warrant for attachment of the district collector’s chair. For execution, on Tuesday, a bailiff along with advocates Adv Virendra Barahate, Adv Rajendra Dharphale Patil and Sairaj Barahate visited the district collector’s office. At that time, the executive engineer of Minor Irrigation Division No. 1 gave a written assurance to deposit the compensation within eight weeks, following which the proceedings were temporarily halted.