Farmer seeks compensation for land under Swami Vivekananda Airport
Ashwani Bandhe, a 53-year-old farmer from Chhattisgarh, has approached the Supreme Court claiming ownership of the land on which Raipur’s Swami Vivekananda Airport stands and asking for ₹3,500 crore in compensation, the New Indian Express reported.
According to the petition filed by Bandhe, the estate was taken into temporary possession by the British colonial administration during World War II for military use. The petitioner contends that after the war neither the physical possession of the land was restored to his family nor was any promised financial compensation delivered, the report said.
The filing elevates a local property dispute to the highest court, where resolution could have wider implications for land title disputes connected to colonial-era acquisitions or government use during wartime. The New Indian Express reported the facts of the petition; further details about supporting documents or the legal basis cited in court were not released in that account.
- Claimant: Ashwani Bandhe, 53
- Location: Land under Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur
- Relief sought: Compensation of ₹3,500 crore
- Basis: Alleged temporary wartime possession by British authorities and non-restoration/non-payment after WWII
"The British colonial administration took temporary possession of the estate during World War II for military use," the petition asserted, according to the New Indian Express report.
Land and title disputes that date back to colonial-era requisitions are legally complex in India. Determination of ownership typically depends on documentary proof of title, records of transfer or acquisition by the state, and whether any statutory process for acquisition and compensation was followed. This petition, as reported, raises questions about whether wartime possession amounted to a formal acquisition and whether any subsequent state action altered title or extinguished private claims.
At present, the New Indian Express account does not detail whether Bandhe's petition names the airport authority, the state or centre as respondents, nor does it indicate if any earlier suits or claims have been pursued in local courts. The report also does not specify the legal relief sought beyond the monetary compensation figure of ₹3,500 crore.
Resolution of the petition will depend on documentary records, historical land revenue files, wartime correspondence, and any statutory acquisition records held by civil authorities. Were the court to accept the claim in whole or in part, the decision could prompt reviews of records and raise administrative and financial questions for authorities responsible for the airport site.
The New Indian Express report that provided the details of the petition also included unrelated state items on mineral exploration projects and reports of smuggling routes through Chhattisgarh; those matters were presented separately and are not part of Bandhe’s legal claim over the airport land.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Petitioner | Ashwani Bandhe (53) |
| Property | Land beneath Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur |
| Claim | ₹3,500 crore compensation |
| Allegation | Temporary wartime possession by British authorities; no restoration or payment after WWII |
As of the New Indian Express report, there has been no public response recorded from airport authorities, the state government or central agencies concerning the petition. Any official reaction, court listing or counter-pleading will clarify the procedural path ahead and whether the Supreme Court will admit the petition for hearing.
Residents and stakeholders in Raipur with interests tied to airport operations or local land records may follow the case for its procedural progress and any orders that could affect ownership rights, compensation liabilities or administrative responsibilities relating to the airport site.
