1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY, BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO.6032 OF 2010 1. Rangnath Gabngaram Ghodke, Age 70 years, Occu.Agri., R/o Chakarwadi, Taluka and Dist.Beed 2. Malku Nivruti Anwane, Age 70 years, Occu.Agri., R/o As above 3. Shankar Rangnath Kawade, Age 58 years, Occu.Agri., R/o As above ..PETITIONERS VERSUS 1. The State of Maharashtra, Through the Principal Secretary, Mantralaya, Fort, Mumbai 32 2. The Collector, Collector Office, Beed 3. The Special Land Acquisition Officer, Minor Irrigation, Beed ..RESPONDENTS Mr.M.A.Tandale, Advocate for petitioners Mrs.A.V.Gondhalekar, Assistant Govt.Pleader for respondents 1 to 3 CORAM : P.V. HARDAS AND N.D. DESHPANDE, JJ DATE : 16th July 2010 2 ORAL JUDGMENT (PER P.V.HARDAS, J.) 1. Rule. Rule returnable forthwith. With the consent of learned Counsel for the parties, this petition is heard finally at the stage of admission. 2. The grievance of the petitioners in this petition is that though the petitioners had submitted application under Section 28-A of the Land Acquisition Act on 23.8.1991, the aforesaid application has not been decided and has been kept pending by respondent No.3. The petitioners are also not aware about the reason as to why the aforesaid application has remained pending. Despite steps being taken by the petitioners, to solicit information as to the reasons as to why the application is pending, no satisfactory answer has been received from the respondents in respect of the pendency of the application. 3. We, therefore, allow this petition and direct the petitioners to appear before respondent No.3 on 10th August 2010 and further direct respondent No.3 to decide the application submitted by the petitioners on 23.8.1991, if pending, in accordance with law and communicate the decision thereon to the petitioners within four weeks of 10th August 2010. In the event for some reason or the other the application is required to be kept pending, the reason for pendency of the said application 3 be communicated to the petitioners. In the event, it is found that the petitioners are entitled for compensation under Section 28-A of the Land Acquisition Act, steps be taken to ensure that the compensation is paid to the petitioners, as expeditiously as possible and in no case later on six months of the award under Section 28-A of the Land Acquisition Act. Rule made absolute on the above terms with no orders as to costs. ( N.D.DESHPANDE ) ( P.V.HARDAS ) JUDGE JUDGE (vvr/6032.10wp)