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• The Maharashtra government has ordered a three-month statewide inquiry into land owned by churches and Christian missionary institutions to examine transfers carried out after Independence.
• A high-level committee will review ownership records, historical grants and subsequent transactions, with particular attention to allegations of irregular land transfers.
• The probe also seeks to resolve the long-pending Nashik Diocesan Trust land dispute affecting thousands of families.
• Officials say the exercise is intended to establish factual ownership through official records before deciding on any legal or administrative action.
The Maharashtra government has initiated one of its most extensive land verification exercises in recent years by directing a statewide review of properties owned by churches and Christian missionary institutions. The decision follows concerns raised over historical land grants and subsequent ownership changes, with the state seeking to determine whether transfers complied with applicable laws. Officials have maintained that the inquiry is a fact-finding exercise intended to verify records and address unresolved land disputes through due legal process.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule informed the Legislative Assembly that the government will conduct a comprehensive investigation into church and missionary land holdings across Maharashtra. The inquiry will examine whether land originally granted for charitable, educational, healthcare or religious purposes was subsequently transferred in accordance with legal provisions or whether any irregularities occurred during changes in ownership.
To carry out the exercise, the government will constitute a committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner. The panel will include officials from the Revenue Department, Settlement Commissioner's office, Inspector General of Registration and the police. Over the next three months, it will scrutinise land records, title documents, historical grants and registration details before submitting its findings to the state government.
The decision was prompted by allegations raised in the Assembly that certain land parcels granted during the British era for public welfare institutions such as schools, hospitals and colleges may have subsequently changed hands through questionable transactions. The government has clarified that the inquiry will rely on documentary evidence and official records to determine the validity of these claims rather than presume any wrongdoing.
A significant component of the inquiry will focus on the Nashik Diocesan Trust Association land dispute, which has remained unresolved for several years and reportedly affects nearly 5,000 families. The committee has been asked to study the ownership history of the disputed land and recommend measures for resolving the matter within the framework of existing laws and verified property records.
Beyond Nashik, the government intends to examine similar cases across Maharashtra wherever historical grants, ownership records or land transfers require verification. Officials believe the exercise will help identify discrepancies, improve the accuracy of land records and bring greater transparency to the management of institutional properties that have been the subject of long-standing disputes.
Legal experts note that institutional land granted for public or charitable purposes is often governed by specific conditions, making verification of title history an important aspect of land administration. The inquiry could therefore provide greater clarity on how such properties have been managed over the decades while helping authorities distinguish legitimate transactions from those that may warrant further scrutiny.
Once the committee completes its review, the government will evaluate its recommendations before deciding on any corrective, legal or administrative measures. The outcome of the investigation is expected to influence future oversight of institutional land holdings and contribute to a more transparent framework for resolving historical property disputes across the state.
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