In a recent court decision, Tukaram Janaba Patil from Kitwad, Kolhapur, aged 96, achieved an important step in his fight for fair payment for his land taken by the government.
Back in 1999, Tukaram Patil's land in Kalkundri, Chandgad, Kolhapur, was taken for a small irrigation project. On March 31, 1999, he was given a payment of ₹77,700. Feeling this was not enough, especially after seeing a neighbor get more for similar land, Patil asked for a reassessment.
Patil filed a request on November 1, 2008, asking for a fairer payment based on a decision from August 8, 2008, which had increased payments for similar cases. However, his request was turned down on February 14, 2019, because he hadn't submitted an official copy of the decision.
“The person's complaint is that the request was turned down just because the person did not file an official copy of the Decision and Award dated 8th August 2008.”
Mrs. S. N. Deshmukh, speaking for the state, argued that the rejection was fair due to the missing official document. The authorities believed that this paperwork was important for the request to be valid.
The case was heard by Justices M. S. Karnik and Ajit B. Kadethankar. They noted that the request was filed within the allowed time and that the paperwork issue should not be more important than the actual case.
“Procedure must not frustrate the object… The application shall not be rejected on limitation or for want of certified copy.”
On December 23, 2025, the court canceled the previous rejection and ordered a new look at Patil's request without the paperwork problems. The court stressed the need for the government to be more helpful to people like Patil, who often don't have the resources to deal with complicated legal systems.
The case has been sent back to the Special Land Acquisition Officer in Gadhinglaj, Kolhapur, who must decide on Patil's application based on its merits within 16 weeks. Patil is also allowed to present additional evidence to strengthen his case.
This decision marks a hopeful turn for Tukaram Patil and others in similar situations, highlighting the importance of fairness and support in legal processes involving land acquisition.
