A 53-year-old farmer from Chhattisgarh has moved the Supreme Court seeking nearly Rs.3,500 crore in compensation, claiming that the land occupied by Raipur’s Swami Vivekananda Airport, including its terminal and surrounding area, originally belonged to his family.
A 53-year-old farmer, Ashwani Bandhe from Chhattisgarh, has approached the Supreme Court seeking close to Rs. 3,500 crore in compensation. He claims that the land currently occupied by Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur including the terminal building and surrounding areas originally belonged to his family.
Bandhe alleges that the British government took the land in 1942 during World War II for military use on a temporary basis, and that it was never lawfully returned to his family after the war ended.
He further states that neither possession of the land was restored to his family nor was the compensation he claims was promised to them ever paid.
He has reportedly been pursuing the dispute for nearly 35 years, gathering historical land documents, archival materials, and government records to support his case.
According to his claim, about 30 acres and 18 decimals of his family’s land were acquired for the construction of what was then the Mana airfield, which later developed into the present-day airport.
Bandhe says his evidence includes historic acquisition records and documents obtained from government departments showing, in his view, that the land was not permanently acquired. He also asserts that the acquisition process provided for an annual rent of Rs. 1,300, which he claims was never paid.
Bandhe’s plea also argues that the Defence of India Act, under which the land was allegedly taken during the war, was repealed in 1946 and therefore stopped operating thereafter. He contends that subsequent legislative changes did not recognize or restore his family’s rights to the property.
Reportedly, he told the Court that he has recently obtained certified copies of historical land records through the State Culture Department. He claims these documents refer to his ancestors in connection with the wartime acquisition. Officials from the Culture Department are reported to have acknowledged the existence of historical acquisition records, but did not comment on whether Bandhe has valid ownership rights.
As per reports, the Chhattisgarh High Court had earlier ordered a fresh inquiry into the dispute. However, Bandhe argues before the Supreme Court that the matter has already been examined by the relevant authorities, and he is seeking compensation rather than another investigation. His compensation claim of nearly Rs. 3,500 crore is said to include the present value of the land, unpaid rent, interest, and other related dues accumulated over many years.
The Supreme Court has not yet assessed the substance of Bandhe’s allegations, and the case remains pending. The Court has not returned any finding on Bandhe’s claims or on the question of ownership of the airport land.