Bombay High Court: 75-Year-Old Land Dispute Over Nashik Land Resolved

Quick Summary: A complicated land argument involving many people and lasting over 75 years has been settled by the Bombay High Court. The case was about dividing land in Nashik, Maharashtra, and involved many appeals and changes. The court's decision made clear who truly owns the disputed lands.

The Long Road to Justice

The case started in 1949 when a lawsuit was filed to divide lands in Nashik. The first decision was made in 1951, and a deal was reached in 1955. However, making this decision happen took decades because of different legal challenges and appeals.

The Disputed Lands

The lands in question included Survey No.80/3 and Survey No.867 in Nashik. At first, the civil court decided that Shivdas Nimba Thankar and others should have these lands. However, making this decision happen was complicated by more appeals and legal challenges.

Appeals and Revisions

Over the years, Milind Dada Kale and others, along with their family members, filed many appeals and changes. These included challenges to the division and execution orders, which were dismissed at different levels of the court system. The issue was further complicated by selling parts of the disputed land to other people.

Minister's Intervention

In 2024, the Revenue Minister got involved, allowing a new application that canceled previous orders and called for a new division. This decision was challenged by Shivdas Nimba Thankar and his successors, leading to more legal actions.

"Shivdas Nimba Thankar and others were given 1/4th share of land out of Survey No.867/1 and 867/2. Decree was required to be sent to the Collector for partition..." - Court Judgment

Final Judgment

On November 4, 2025, Justice N.J. Jamadar of the Bombay High Court made a final decision. The court ruled that the previous orders did not change the delivery of possession of Survey No.80/3 to Shivdas Nimba Thankar and others, confirming their ownership. The court also told the revenue authorities to fix the entries in the record of rights for this land.

Key Takeaways

• The court stressed the importance of following the original decision and making sure that the rights of Shivdas Nimba Thankar and others were respected.
• The judgment made clear that the land with Survey No.80/3 should not have been included in the division process managed by the Collector.

Summary of the Verdict

The Bombay High Court confirmed that Shivdas Nimba Thankar and others are the rightful owners of Survey No.80/3. The court instructed the authorities to correct the official records to reflect this decision.