Digitally 2026:CGHC:5627-DB signed by ANURADHA ANURADHA TIWARI NAFR TIWARI Date:

2026.02.02

14:58:38 +0530 HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WA No. 35 of 2026

1 - Sanjay Mundra S/o Shri Ram Kishan Mundra Aged About 58 Years R/o Shop No. 201, Sector- 6, A Market, Bhilai, Tehsil And District- Durg (C.G.)

2 - Sanjay Kumar Agrawal S/o Late Shri Laxman Prasad Agrawal Aged About 58 Years R/o Shop No. 146, Sector- 6 A Market, Bhilai, Tehsil And District- Durg (C.G.)

3 - Dr. Basant Verma S/o Late Dr. Balram Verma Aged About 58 Years R/o Shop No. 90, Sector- 6 A Bhilai, Tehsil And District- Durg (C.G.)

4 - Smt. Lalita Jain W/o Shri Gyan Chand Jain Aged About 71 Years R/o Shop No. 199, Sector- 6a, Bhilai, Tehsil And District- Durg (C.G.)

5 - Alok Kumar Gupta S/o Late Shri Indrajeet Gupta Aged About 40 Years R/o Shop No. 106, Sector- 6A, Bhilai, Tehsil And District- Durg (C.G.)

... Appellants versus

1 - Steel Authority of India Limited Through Chairman, Ispat Bhawan, 3rd Floor, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, Pin No.- 110003

2 - Bhilai Steel Plant Through- Chief Executive Officer Bhilai, District-

Durg (C.G.)

3 - Union of India Through Ministry Of Steel, Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi, Pin No.- 110011

4 - State of Chhattisgarh Through Principal Secretary, Revenue And Disaster Management, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur (C.G.)

5 - Collector Durg District- Durg (C.G.)

... Respondents (Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Ravindra Kumar Agrawal , Judge Judgment on Board Per Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice

02.02 .2026

1. Heard Mr. Tarendra Kumar Jha, learned counsel for the appellants. Also heard Dr. Saurabh Kumar Pande, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2, Ms. Shweta Rai, learned Central Government Counsel on behalf of Mr. Ramakant Mishra, learned Deputy Solicitor General for the Union of India/respondent No.3 as well as Mr. Prasun Kumar Bhaduri, learned Deputy Advocate General, appearing for the State/respondents No.4 and 5 on I.A. No.02, which is an application for condonation of 7 days in preferring the instant writ appeal.

2. For the reasons mentioned in the application (I.A. No.02), the same is allowed. Delay of 7 days in preferring the instant appeal is hereby condoned.

3. With the consent of learned counsel appearing for the parties, we proceed to hear the matter finally.

4. By way of this writ appeal, appellants have prayed for following relief(s):-

“It is, therefore played that this Hon'ble court may kindly be pleased to allow this appeal and set aside/quash the impugned order 31.10.2025 (Annexure A/1) passed by Hon'ble Single Bench in W.P.(C) No. 2606/2025 and other connected matter and also quash the impugned offer letter/notice dated 01.04.2025 (Annexure P/3), in the interest of justice.”

5. The present intra Court appeal has been filed against the order dated 31.10.2025 passed by the learned Single Judge in WPC No.2606/2025, whereby the writ petition filed by the writ petitioners has been dismissed.

6. The brief facts projected before the learned Single Judge were that the writ petitioners/appellants are long-standing lessees of plots situated in the Bhilai Steel Plant Township, having acquired the same either directly or through their predecessors-in-title pursuant to registered sale lease deeds executed during the years 1989–1991, each for a fixed tenure of 33 years. The lease deeds categorically provide for renewal on expiry of the original term, with the only permissible enhancement being 50% of the existing ground rent, and specifically bar the levy of any premium, service charges or any other amount