Name of the Case: Estate Officer, Haryana Urban Development Authority And Ors. v. Nirmala Devi.
Citation: 2025 INSC 843
Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Bench: Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan
Date: 14.07.2025
In a recent judgment, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that rehabilitation of oustees is not a mandatory legal right and must be guided by fairness and humanitarian considerations. While affirming that landowners are entitled to monetary compensation, the Hon’ble Court noted that rehabilitation schemes are discretionary unless acquisition leads to loss of livelihood or renders individuals destitute.
The Hon’ble Court emphasized that benefits under rehabilitation schemes cannot be claimed as a matter of right without fulfilling foundational requirements. It further observed that floating schemes to appease landowners, without implementing proper safeguards, invites protracted litigation and administrative complications. The Hon’ble Bench also reaffirmed that the applicable rehabilitation policy is the one in force at the time of actual takeover of possession, which is the 2016 revised policy and not the one in force when the land was acquired1.
