Maharashtra to Challenge Land Grant to Private Developers in Supreme Court

The Maharashtra State Government will contest the Bombay High Court’s decision to award approximately 254.88 acres of valuable land in Mira-Bhayandar to two private builders by filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced.

On April 30, 2026, the Bombay High Court ruled in favour of Estate Investment and Mira Real Estate Developers, granting them the disputed land. Minister Bawankule described the ruling as unexpected, emphasizing that the land belongs to the state government and confirmed that the government would defend its position by appealing to the Supreme Court.

A statement from the minister’s office detailed that since 1948, unauthorized alterations were made in the revenue records without government approval. Initially, the name of ‘Estate Investment Company’ was inserted illegally, followed by ‘Mira Salt Works’. In 1958, due to the land’s use as salt pans, the Central Government’s Salt Department was also listed.

The ownership dispute reached the Supreme Court, which ordered an appeal before the Thane District Collector. In 2002, the District Collector rejected Mira Salt Company’s claim and ruled that the land should remain vested with the state government.

However, in 2019, the companies and the Central Government’s Salt Commissioner filed a First Appeal in the Bombay High Court. On April 30, the High Court dismissed the Salt Commissioner’s appeal, determining that the land belonged to Mira Salt Works. The court had been expected to decide only on the appeal’s maintainability but ruled on the merits, raising the possibility that the private developer’s name, ‘Mira Real Estate Developers,’ may be retained on the government land records.

Minister Bawankule stated, “We will firmly crush all attempts to grab government land by tampering with revenue records. The Bombay High Court order effectively allows the transfer of government land to private owners. The Government of Maharashtra will challenge this order in the Supreme Court to protect public property. We will strongly defend the State’s ownership rights over this valuable land.”

He also cited the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 – Section 29(3)(c), explaining: “Occupants- Class II shall consist of persons who before the commencement of MLRC have been granted rights in unalienated land under leases which entitle them to hold the land in perpetuity, or for a period not less than fifty years with option to renew on fixed rent, under any law relating to land revenue and in force before the commencement of this Code; and all provisions of this Code relating to the rights, liabilities and responsibilities of Occupants – Class II shall apply to them as if they were Occupants – Class II under this Code.”