PUNE: In a dramatic turn of events highlighting bureaucratic apathy, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) narrowly avoided the court-ordered attachment of the Municipal Commissioner’s official chair, laptop, and office inventory on Monday afternoon. The drastic legal step was initiated following the PMC’s persistent failure to disburse long-pending land acquisition compensation amounting to 12 crore rupees to farmers from Devachi Uruli and Fursungi.
The legal battle stems from land acquired by the PMC decades ago for garbage depots in the Uruli and Fursungi areas. In 2005, the civic body acquired approximately 100 acres of land. However, while awards were finalized, the administration delayed making payments according to fair market rates, prompting affected farmers to approach the judiciary.
For 21 years, the farmers waged a relentless legal battle. Eventually, courts ruled in favor of the farmers, directing the PMC to pay compensation at the rate of 70,000 to 75,000 rupees per guntha based on prevailing market rates. Despite clear judicial mandates, the municipal administration repeatedly dragged its feet, citing various appeals and internal delays, leaving the farmers empty-handed.
With the PMC failing to honor the compensation deadline, the farmers, represented by advocate Adv. Ashok Fadke, filed execution proceedings in the lower court. Finding the administration in contempt of its directives, the court issued formal warrants to attach the Municipal Commissioner’s office property, including the official chair and computer equipment.
On Monday afternoon, court bailiffs accompanied by police personnel and the aggrieved farmers arrived directly at the PMC headquarters. As authorities prepared to inventory and seal the office space, considerable chaos and commotion ensued within the administrative building. Legal representatives and municipal officials scrambled to manage the unfolding crisis as public and media attention converged on the commissioner’s office.
Temporary Relief Granted as PMC Submits Undertaking
Facing imminent embarrassment and the physical seizure of office assets, the PMC legal department rushed to secure a temporary reprieve. Nisha Chavan, Chief Legal Officer of the PMC, stated that the civic administration has formally submitted an affidavit to the court requesting an extension until August 11 to clear all pending dues, resulting in a temporary stay on Monday’s coercive action.
Meanwhile, prominent civic figures and legal observers have criticized the administration’s chronic delays. Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram indicated that a thorough internal inquiry will be conducted to identify officials responsible for administrative lapses and the failure to disburse payments on time, ensuring accountability for the embarrassment brought upon the civic body.
The near-seizure has brought the deep-seated inefficiencies of the PMC’s land acquisition and legal compliance departments back into sharp public focus. For the elderly farmers—including Lilabai Harpale, Harishchandra Harpale, Vinayak Harpale, and Kanta Harpale—who were present at the headquarters during the tense standoff, the August 11 deadline marks yet another critical test of whether the administration will finally fulfill its legal and moral obligations.
