In a recent Supreme Court case, the lawyer representing the Maharashtra government faced a stern reprimand over a controversial affidavit submitted in a land compensation dispute. The affidavit, prepared by a senior IAS officer, was deemed "contemptuous" by the court, which criticized the lawyer for allowing such a document to be filed. Although the lawyer quickly apologized and informed the court that the state would withdraw the affidavit, the court remained unsatisfied and ordered the IAS officer to appear in person. The court also reminded the lawyer of their duty as an officer of the court, emphasizing that they should not merely act as a "postman" for their client.
The case revolves around a piece of land near Pune, which the state of Maharashtra has been occupying illegally for over six decades. The Supreme Court is now considering how to fairly compensate the rightful landowner. Initially, the state had agreed to pay Rs. 37 crore, but the court requested an updated valuation. The IAS officer's recent submission indicated a new compensation figure of Rs. 48.6 crore. However, he noted that both the landowner and the court were unlikely to accept the Pune Collector's latest assessment, emphasizing that it was the state's responsibility to determine a fair compensation in line with legal provisions.
Additionally, the Maharashtra government proposed providing alternative land within the Pune municipal area instead of monetary compensation, but this offer was rejected by the landowner. The Supreme Court then directed the landowner's counsel, Dhruv Mehta, to consult with his client about their preference for either monetary compensation or land in exchange. The court also instructed both parties to jointly inspect the proposed alternative land.
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