The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a stern warning to the Maharashtra government, threatening to suspend all its freebie schemes unless it compensates a private party for land illegally occupied by the state over six decades ago. The court criticized the state for having ample funds for freebies but failing to resolve the compensation issue.
During a session presided by Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan, the bench expressed its dissatisfaction with the state’s approach, labeling it as not reflective of a “model state.” The court’s remarks came after noting that the state has proposed a compensation of Rs 37.42 crore, significantly less than the Rs 317 crore claimed by the applicant’s counsel.
Advocate Nishant R Katneshwarkar, representing Maharashtra, requested a three-week extension to finalize the compensation, citing high-level considerations. However, the bench granted the extension with a caveat, ordering an interim measure that no freebies, including the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ and ‘Ladka Bhau Yojana,’ should be implemented until further notice.
These schemes, aimed at transferring funds to women and providing financial assistance and work experience to young men, respectively, are now at stake as the court awaits a satisfactory response from the state government.
Justice Gavai made clear the court’s focus is on the rights of the citizens and not public perceptions influenced by media headlines. The court emphasized the severity of the state’s neglect by highlighting the long ordeal faced by the landowner, who despite winning the legal battle up to the Supreme Court, continues to struggle for just compensation.
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The case has been adjourned to August 28, giving the Maharashtra government a tight deadline to come up with a reasonable compensation proposal. The bench warned that failure to present a satisfactory plan might lead to a decision that could significantly impact the state’s policy implementations.
