WP/8736/2026 of ARCHANA WASUDEO GARGELWAR AND ANR. Vs WESTERN COALFIELDS LTD. THROUGH ITS CHAIRMAN CUM MANAGING DIRECTOR AND ANR. on 16 October 2026

1. Heard learned counsel Ms D.A.Dohe for petitioners.

2. Petitioners are landowners whose land was acquired by respondent No.1 for coal mining activities. In pursuance of such acquisition, petitioners had submitted an application dated 14.3.2026 for grant of benefits under the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2012 (for short, “R & R Policy, 2012”). The aforesaid application is on record at page No.48 (Annexure-4).

3. Learned counsel for petitioners submits that the aforesaid application is not yet decided by respondents, and more particularly, by respondent Nos.2.

4. In view of the above, we dispose of the present writ petition with a direction to respondent No. 2 to decide the aforesaid application for grant of benefits under the R&R Policy, 2012 on its own merits and in accordance with the law and particularly, in view of the judgment passed by this Court on 06/08/2026 in Writ Petition No. 6869 of 2025 as also in view of the Standard Operating Procedure adopted by Western Coalfields Limited on 30/01/2026.

10 wp8736.26.odt

5. The aforesaid decision shall be taken within a period of eight weeks from today. The decision taken thereupon shall be communicated to petitioners within a period of two weeks from the date of such decision. [RAJ D.WAKODE, J.]

[URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.]

!! BrWankhede !! Signed by: Mr. B. R. Wankhede Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 19/10/2026 10:34:46