Advertisement
Private equity has played a significant role in shaping Indi...
In today’s real estate landscape, fitness is often treated...
In this episode of Prop Personalities, we sit down with Hars...
Luxury real estate is one of the most talked-about segments ...
Welcome to Prop Personalities by Prop News Time - a podcast ...
The Bombay High Court has upheld the ownership of a 205-acre land parcel in Bhayandar, Thane, held by a subsidiary of Valor Estate Ltd, dismissing an appeal filed by the Union of India’s Salt Department. The ruling, delivered in the past week, confirms a 2018 civil court judgment in favour of Miraland Developers and brings closure to a dispute spanning over 40 years. The land, located within the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation limits, had been under litigation across multiple forums. The decision provides legal clarity over the asset, which had remained under dispute due to competing claims linked to historic salt pan usage and government ownership assertions.
The Bombay High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the Union of India through its Salt Department, thereby confirming the ownership of a 205-acre land parcel in Bhayandar, Thane, held by a wholly owned subsidiary of Valor Estate Ltd, according to developments reported in the past week. Advertisement
The court upheld a 2018 judgment of a Thane civil court, which had earlier rejected the government’s claim over the land. The appeal, filed in 2019, challenged the ownership rights of Miraland Developers Pvt Ltd, the developer’s subsidiary that holds the land parcel located within the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation area.
The dispute relates to approximately 205 acres of land at Village Bhayandar and forms part of a larger tract originally linked to an 1870 indenture, under which a long-term lease covering several villages was granted to a private entity. Over time, the ownership of the land passed through multiple private assignments, forming the basis of the current title chain held by the developer’s subsidiary.
The Union government, through the Salt Department, had contested ownership on the grounds that the land—categorised as “Eksali” land—was historically associated with salt production and therefore fell under federal jurisdiction. However, the High Court observed that a 1938 notification listing properties used by the Bombay Salt Department did not include the disputed land, weakening the government’s claim.
In its ruling, the court noted that the appellant failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn the findings of the lower court. It held that the Union of India had not established clear ownership or title over the land, and therefore dismissed the appeal, effectively affirming the subsidiary’s title.
The litigation has spanned over four decades, involving proceedings before revenue authorities, civil courts, and higher judicial forums, including earlier challenges at different levels. The High Court’s decision now provides legal finality at this stage, removing a long-standing dispute over the asset.
The land parcel, located in the Thane district within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, represents a significant contiguous holding. While the developer has not disclosed any immediate development plans, clarity on title is typically a prerequisite for project planning, financing, or monetisation of such assets.
The company has informed stock exchanges that it is awaiting a certified copy of the High Court order to complete procedural formalities following the judgment.
The ruling highlights the complexities associated with legacy land disputes in urban and peri-urban regions, particularly where historical land use overlaps with modern development interests. With the dismissal of the appeal, ownership of the Bhayandar land stands legally affirmed in favour of the developer’s subsidiary, concluding one of the long-running land title cases in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
