The Maharashtra government has announced its decision to challenge a recent Bombay High Court ruling in the Supreme Court, escalating a high-stakes legal battle over 254.88 acres of prime land in the Mira-Bhayandar region. The dispute centers on whether the land, valued at hundreds of crores, belongs to the state or private entities.
The state will file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) to contest the April 30, 2026, judgment that favored private developers and the Mira Salt Works.
Core of the Dispute: Alleged Record Tampering
The Revenue Department contends that the parcel, located in Mouje Bhayandar, is public property. Officials allege a decades-long history of unauthorized alterations to land records:
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1948: “Estate Investment Company” was allegedly inserted into revenue records without state approval.
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Post-1948: The name was changed to “Mira Salt Works.”
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1958: Because the land served as salt pans, the Central Government’s Salt Department was added to the records.
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2002: Following a Supreme Court-directed inquiry, the Thane District Collector ruled that the land was vested entirely with the Maharashtra Government, rejecting private claims.
The High Court Turnaround
In 2019, the companies and the Salt Commissioner challenged the Collector’s decision. On April 30, 2026, the Bombay High Court ruled in favor of Mira Salt Works, effectively clearing a path for ownership by private developers, specifically Mira Real Estate Developers.
The Government’s Objection: The state argues that the High Court ruled on the “merits” of the ownership case, despite the appeal being primarily focused on whether the proceedings themselves were “maintainable.”
The State’s Legal Strategy
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has asserted that the state will “firmly crush” attempts to grab public land. The government’s upcoming challenge will lean on the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (MLRC), 1966:
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Section 29(3)(c): This provision deals with “Occupants – Class II” (persons granted rights over unalienated land via long-term leases).
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The Argument: The state will argue that these historical lease arrangements do not automatically grant permanent ownership or defeat the government’s ultimate title to the land.
Impact and Implications
Given the property’s location in the rapidly urbanizing belt near Mumbai, the commercial stakes are immense. Legal experts suggest this case could set a significant precedent for:
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Salt Pan Lands: Resolving ownership between state, center, and private lessors.
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Historical Leases: Determining the finality of colonial-era or pre-MLRC land entries.
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Public Property Protection: Strengthening the state’s power to correct “tampered” revenue records from decades past.
The Maharashtra government is expected to officially file the SLP in the Supreme Court within the coming days.
