Since Friday last week, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has been erecting boards around 100 acres of land currently in the possession of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), declaring that the area has been reserved for a park. This action follows a stay granted by the Supreme Court on the February 2026 order of the Bombay High Court.
Background of the Dispute
The Bombay High Court had ruled that 217 acres of land in Manpada, Thane, could not be classified as a private forest. The court dismissed the state government's challenge to a 2017 order by the Maharashtra Revenue Tribunal, which had set aside the acquisition of the land by the state. The High Court held that no proper notice had been served to the landowner, D Dahyabhai and Co Pvt Ltd, before the acquisition as mandated by law, leading to the failure of the state's plea. The dispute has its origins dating back 50 years.
High Court Directive and TMC's Challenge
The High Court directed the TMC to grant Dahyabhai development rights and transfer of development rights (TDR) within 21 days for 100 acres reserved for a park. This would have cost the corporation an estimated Rs 2,800 crore. The TMC challenged this order in the Supreme Court through a special leave petition, which led to the apex court staying the High Court's order in April.
Meanwhile, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park authorities wrote to the state government and sent reminders requesting the government to file a review petition and subsequently a special leave petition before the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order. The last date for filing a petition in the Supreme Court is May 20, but sources indicate that the government has yet to make a decision.
Current Situation and Police Presence
Following the Supreme Court stay, the TMC, amidst heavy police bandobast, has begun putting up boards to secure the land. Prashant Kadam, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Zone-5 of Thane city police, stated that the demarcation process for the land is currently underway. As a precautionary measure to avoid any potential law and order issues, a police bandobast has been actively deployed in the area. The restricted zone will be opened to the public once the physical demarcation is completed and the concerned authorities have received all requisite legal documents.
However, TMC Commissioner Saurabh Rao denied imposing any restrictions on the movement of residents in the area. He clarified that the corporation has not set up any boards declaring the area as private property, nor has it restricted access to residents.
