Maharashtra Govt to Appeal to Supreme Court Over Mira-Bhayander Land Dispute

The Maharashtra government is set to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court's recent order. This order has directed the transfer of approximately 254.88 acres of land in Mira-Bhayander, Thane district, to two builders. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced this decision on Saturday, emphasizing the government's strong stance on retaining the land.

According to an official statement, the Bombay High Court ruled in favor of The Estate Investment and Mira Real Estate Developers concerning the land, which is valued at crores of rupees. Bawankule stated, 'The land belongs to the state government. We will strongly present the government's side before the Supreme Court and ensure the land remains in government possession.'

The minister added that the verdict was unexpected, as the land was owned by the state government, and the government had already issued directions to file an appeal in the apex court. The decision to challenge the April 30 verdict was made to protect the state's interests.

The background of the case is complex. Allegedly, changes were made in the revenue records of the land from 1948 onwards without prior government approval. Initially, the name of the Estate Investment Company and later Mira Salt Works were inserted into the records illegally. In 1958, the name of the Central Salt Department was added due to salt pan usage on the land. The ownership dispute eventually reached the Supreme Court, which directed that an appeal be filed before the Thane district collector.

In 2002, the district collector rejected the claim of Mira Salt Company and ordered that the entire land be vested with the government. However, in 2019, the companies and the Central Salt Commissioner challenged this order before the Bombay High Court through a first appeal. On April 30, the High Court dismissed the Salt Commissioner's appeal and ruled that the land belonged to Mira Salt Works.

The government claims that the issue before the High Court was about the maintainability of the first appeal, but the matter was decided on its merits. This has created a possibility for the private entity, Mira Real Estate Developers, to retain its claim over what the government maintains is public land.

Revenue Minister Bawankule cited provisions of Section 29(3)(c) of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, to assert that the land belongs to the state government. The government is determined to ensure that the land remains in public hands, highlighting the importance of this case for the state's resources and public interest.

The Supreme Court's decision on this matter will have significant implications for land ownership and governance in the region. The Maharashtra government's appeal is expected to be a closely watched legal battle, as it could set a precedent for similar disputes in the future.