'Raipur airport built on my family's land acquired during World War II': Chhattisgarh farmer seeks Rs 3,500 crore compensation in SC

A farmer from Chhattisgarh has approached the Supreme Court with an unusual claim, seeking Rs 3,500 crore compensation on the grounds that the land where Raipur's Swami Vivekananda Airport now stands belonged to his family, a NBT report stated. The matter is currently pending before the apex court, and no final decision has been delivered.

Farmer says airport land belonged to his ancestors

Ashwini Bande, 53, claims the land on which the terminal building and airport premises have been developed originally belonged to his ancestors. According to him, the British government took over the land in 1942 during World War II to meet military requirements.

He argues that the acquisition was only temporary and that the land was supposed to be handed back once the war ended. However, he says that neither the land was returned nor was the family compensated as promised.

A legal battle that has lasted 35 years

Bande says he has spent the last 35 years pursuing the case. During this period, he has gathered records from government archives, libraries and different departments across the country to support his claim.

According to him, these documents show that the land was never permanently acquired. He also says that the long legal fight has already cost between Rs 15 crore and Rs 20 crore.

Why he is seeking Rs 3,500 crore

As per the documents cited by Bande, nearly 30 acres and 18 decimals of his family's land were taken for the Mana airfield during the war years.

He says there was a provision to pay his family an annual rent of Rs 1,300 for the land. However, he claims the rent was never paid and the land was never returned after the war ended.

Based on these claims, Bande has asked the Supreme Court to award compensation of around Rs 3,500 crore. The court has not yet delivered a final verdict, and the case remains sub judice.

Farmer says old government records support his claim

Bande says the Defence of India Act was repealed in 1946 and that a new law introduced in 1952 transferred the management of such lands to different government departments. He alleges that his family's rights were overlooked during this transition.

According to him, he recently came across old government records related to the airfield during an exhibition organised by the Culture Department in Raipur. He later obtained certified copies of those documents under the Public Service Guarantee Act.

Bande believes these records further strengthen his case before the Supreme Court.

Culture Department confirms records exist

Officials from the Culture Department have confirmed that the department possesses historical land acquisition records from that period, including the names of several farmers. However, the department has not made any comment regarding the ownership of the land or the validity of Bande's claim.

For now, the dispute remains before the Supreme Court, which is yet to decide whether the farmer's claim has legal merit.

(Source: NBT)