In an important decision on November 26, 2025, Judge Milind N. Jadhav of the Bombay High Court rejected appeals from eight people against the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). The case was about illegal buildings near Kandivali Railway Station, a dispute that has been ongoing for over 26 years.
This case goes back to 1999 when buildings outside Kandivali Railway Station were considered illegal. The people living there, under the group name Saibaba Mitra Mandal, tried to stop the demolition. Even after losing in the Supreme Court in 2024, they kept appealing, claiming they owned the land and wanted to stop the demolition.
The latest appeal involved eight people, represented by Mr. Aseem Naphade and Mr. P.J. Thorat. They argued that their buildings were different from those in earlier cases. However, the court found these claims untrue, noting that the appellants did not mention earlier legal cases.
"The appellants have hidden the entire legal cases filed previously against the same buildings," noted Judge Jadhav.
The court emphasized that the appellants had no legal right, claim, or interest in the land. The buildings were unauthorized, and the appellants had no approved plans to prove ownership.
Nemi Krishna Cooperative Housing Society, the landowner, got involved in the case. They supported the MCGM's position, pointing out that the buildings were unauthorized.
Judge Jadhav imposed significant fines on the appellants for their misleading actions. Mr. Naphade's clients were fined Rs. 25,000 each, while Mr. Thorat's clients were fined Rs. 50,000 each, payable to the Kirtikar Law Library.
The court refused to delay the judgment, marking the end of the long legal battle. Judge Jadhav emphasized the importance of following the law against unauthorized buildings.
"It's time to send a strong message to such illegal vendors and land grabbers that the law is respected in this country," asserted the judge.
In summary, the court ruled against the appellants, emphasizing that they had no legal rights to the land and that the buildings were unauthorized. This judgment serves as an important example in addressing unauthorized buildings in Mumbai, reinforcing legal processes and property rights.
