Chattisgarh High Court
Asharam Kanwar vs The Project Director on 19 March, 2026
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2026:CGHC:13235
RUKHSAR NAFR
BANO
Digitally signed by
RUKHSAR BANO
Date: 2026.03.20
16:02:50 +0530
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
WPC No. 931 of 2026
1 - Narayan Singh Kanwar S/o Sumer Singh Aged About 66 Years R/o Village
Jogisar, Tahsil Pendraroad, Distt. Gaurela Pendra Marwahi, Chhattisgarh.
--- Petitioner
versus
1 - The Project Director Bhartiya National Highway Authority, Project
Implementation Unit, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
2 - The Collector Gaurela Pendra Marwahi, Chhattisgarh.
3 - The Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) Competent Authority (Land Acquisition)
Pendraroad, Distt. Gaurela Pendra Marwahi, Chhattisgarh.
--- Respondents
WPC No. 1082 of 2026
1 - Goverdhan Prasad S/o Visheshhar @ Dineshwar Aged About 70 Years Scheduled Tribe, R/o Village Belpat, Tahsil Pendraroad District- Gaurela- Pendra - Marwahi (C.G.)
---Petitioner Versus 1 - The Project Director Bhartiya National Highway Authority, Project Implementation Unit, Bilaspur (C.G.) 2 - The Collector, District- Gaurela- Pendra - Marwahi (C.G.) 3 - The Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) Competent Authority (Land - Acquisition Pendraroad District- Gaurela- Pendra - Marwahi (C.G.)
--- Respondents WPC No. 1081 of 2026 2 1 - Mangal Singh Kanwar S/o Ramsingh Kanwar Aged About 65 Years R/o Village Jogisar, Tahsil Pendraroad, District Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi(Cg)
---Petitioner Versus 1 - The Project Director Bhartiya National Highway Authority, Project Impleamentation Unit, Bilaspur (Cg) 2 - The Collector District Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi(Cg) 3 - The Sub-Division Officer (Revenue) Competent Authority (Land Acquisition) Pendraroad District Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi(Cg)
--- Respondents WPC No. 1006 of 2026 1 - Asharam Kanwar S/o Fagun Singh Aged About 40 Years Resident Of Village Belpat, Tahsil Pendraroad, District Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.)
---Petitioner Versus 1 - The Project Director Bhartiya National Highway Authority, Project Implementation Unit, Bilaspur (C.G.) 2 - The Collector Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.) 3 - The Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue)-Competent Authority (Land-Acquisition) Pendraroad District Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.)
--- Respondents WPC No. 972 of 2026 1 - Baliram Gond S/o Late Sitaram Aged About 40 Years R/o Village- Belpat, Tahsil- Pendraroad District- Gaurela- Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.)
---Petitioner Versus 1 - The Project Director Bhartiya National Highway Authority Project Implementation Unit Bilaspur (C.G.) 2 - The Collector District- Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.) 3 - The Sub- Divisional Officer (Revenue) Competent Authority (Land-Acquisition) Pendraroad District- Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.)
--- Respondents WPC No. 951 of 2026 3 1 - Bhaiya Lal Yadav S/o Ghasiram Aged About 57 Years R/o Village Jogisar, Tahsil Pendraroad, Distt. Gaurela Pendra Marwahi, Chhattisgarh.
---Petitioner Versus 1 - The Project Director Bhartiya National Highway Authority, Project Implementation Unit, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. 2 - The Collector Gaurela Pendra Marwahi, Distt. Pendraroad, Chhattisgarh. 3 - The Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) Competent Authority (Land Acquisition) Pendraroad, Distt. Gaurela Pendra Marwahi, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
--- Respondents WPC No. 920 of 2026 1 - Prem Singh Kanwar S/o Ramayan Singh Aged About 55 Years R/o Village Jogisar, Tahsil Pendraroad, District Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.)
---Petitioner Versus 1 - The Project Director Bhartiya National Highway Authority, Project Implementation Unit, Bilaspur (C.G.) 2 - The Collector Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi District (C.G.) 3 - The Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue)- Competent Authority (Land-Acquisition) Pendraroad District Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.)
--- Respondents WPC No. 923 of 2026 1 - Jaipal Singh Kanwar S/o Bandhu Singh Aged About 70 Years R/o Village Belpat, Tahsil Pendraroad, District Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi C.G.
---Petitioner Versus 1 - The Project Director Bhartiya National Highway Authority, Project Implementation Unit, Bilaspur C.G. 2 - The Collector, District Gaurela-Pendra- Marwahi C.G. 3 - The Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue)-Competent Authority (Land Acquisition) Pendraroad, District Gaurela-Pendra- Marwahi C.G.
--- Respondents WPC No. 925 of 2026 4 1 - Shiv Singh Kanwar S/o Samar Singh Aged About 70 Years R/o Village Belpat, Tahsil Pendraroad, Distt. Gaurela Pendra Marwahi, Chhattisgarh.
---Petitioner Versus 1 - The Project Director Bhartiya National Highway Authority, Project Implementation Unit, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. 2 - The Collector Distt. Gaurela Pendra Marwahi, Chhattisgarh. 3 - The Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) Competent Authority (Land Acquisition) Pendraroad, Distt.Gaurela Pendra Marwahi, Chhattisgarh.
--- Respondents WPC No. 1110 of 2026 1 - Purshottam S/o Hiralal Bhaina, Aged About 45 Years R/o Village Jogisar, Tahsil Pendraroad, District- Gaurela- Pendra- Marwahi (C.G.) ... Petitioner versus 1 - The Project Director Bhartiya National Highway Authority, Project Implementation Unit, Bilaspur (C.G.) 2 - The Collector, District- Gaurela- Pendra- Marwahi (C.G.) 3 - The Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) Competent Authority (Land - Acquisition) Pendraroad, District- Gaurela- Pendra- Marwahi (C.G.) ... Respondents (Cause title, as taken from CIS) For Petitioners : Mr. Somnath Verma, Advocate For Respondent No.1 : Mr. Dhiraj Kumar Wankhede, Counsel For State/Respondent Nos.2 & 3 : Mr. Shobhit Mishra, Dy. GA and Mr. Abhishek Gupta, Panel Lawyer.
(Hon'ble Shri Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi) Order on Board 19/03/2026
1. Since the issue involved in all the above writ petitions is one and the same, therefore, they are being heard analogously and decided by this common order.
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2. The Writ Petition bearing WPC No.1110/2026 contains the same issue and the same reliefs, therefore, it is also heard along with the present batch of writ petitions and decided by this common order.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are residents of Villages Jogisar and Belpat, respectively. Some portion of their lands has been utilised for the construction of the Ratanpur to Jabalpur National Highway 45 without following the due process of law. He further submits that the compensation has not been paid to the petitioners.
4. In reply, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.1 submits that the lands of the petitioners in the writ petitions bearing WPC No.923/2026, WPC No.925/2026 and WPC No.1006/2026 have been acquired for the construction of the aforesaid road, and compensation has also been deposited in the office of respondent No.3.
5. In respect of the other cases, learned counsel for the State/respondent Nos.2 & 3 submits that various other persons of Villages Dugra, Umarkhohi, Belpat, Jogisar, Banjhorka, Khodri, Thengadand, Gaurkheda, Peeparkhunti and Kenwachi have filed representations before respondent No.3 stating that their lands have also been affected by the construction of the aforementioned road, therefore, respondent No.3 has constituted a team of Revenue Officers vide Order No.3041 /अ.वि.अ. / भू०अ०/2025, Pendra Road, dated 22.09.2025, to conduct an inquiry. He further submits that the petitioners may also file an appropriate application/representation before respondent No.3 so that the team constituted by respondent No.3 may also examine their grievances.
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6. In response to the above contentions made by learned State counsel, learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners in the other cases, whose lands have been affected but for whom compensation has not been paid to them, will also file representations/applications before respondent No.3. Therefore, he prays that these writ petitions may be disposed of granting liberty to the petitioners to file their representations/applications for redressal of their grievance.
7. As contended by learned counsel for respondent No.1, compensation has already been deposited in favour of the petitioners in three cases, i.e., WPC No.923/2026, WPC No.925/2026, and WPC No.1006/2026. Consequently, the petitioners in these cases may file appropriate applications/ representations for disbursement of the compensation.
8. Having considered the contentions put forth by learned counsel for the parties and without making any comment on the merits of the cases, these writ petitions are disposed of by granting liberty to all the petitioners to file their representations/applications for redressal of their grievance before respondent No.3, within a period of 15 days from today. In the event of such applications/representations being filed, respondent No.3 is directed to inquire into the issue and decide the applications/representations filed by the petitioners. It is further observed that if it is found that any parcel of the petitioners' land has been utilised for the construction of the said road, appropriate proceedings shall be initiated with regard to grant of compensation and other benefits to the petitioners, in accordance with law. 7
9. With the aforesaid observations and directions, all the writ petitions stand disposed of.
10. Pending interlocutory application(s), if any, also stands disposed of. No order as to cost(s).
Sd/-
(Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi) JUDGE Rukhsar