Supreme Court reprimand the Shinde government? Said 'There is money for Ladli Behna and Ladka Bhau but…', know the full news

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (August 7, 2024) reprimanded the Maharashtra government for not filing a reply in the court in the matter of work / construction of buildings on wild land and compensation to the affected private party. And the apex court also said that the Maharashtra government has funds to distribute free things under schemes like 'Ladli Behna' and 'Ladka Bhau', but does not have money to compensate for the loss of land.

While giving time till August 13 to the Maharashtra government to file a reply, the bench of Justice KV Vishwanathan, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta said that if the order is not followed then the Chief Secretary will have to appear in the court. The Supreme Court was hearing a case related to the construction of buildings on forest land in Maharashtra, where a private party has succeeded in getting possession of the land illegally occupied by the state government.

The Maharashtra government has claimed that the land in question was occupied by Armament Research Development Establishment Institute (ARDEI), a unit of the Central Defence Department.

The state government said that later another land was allotted to the private party in place of the land occupied by ARDEI. However, it was later found that the land allotted to the private party was notified as forest land.

The Supreme Court bench reprimanded the Maharashtra government and said, 'As per our order of July 23, we have directed you (the state government) to clarify your stand on the ownership of the land on affidavit. If you do not file your reply, we will ask your Chief Secretary to be present here next time. You have money to distribute free goods under 'Laadli Behna' and 'Larda Bhau' but no money to compensate for loss of land.