The Bombay High Court has upheld the decision of a civic body to issue a stop-work notice for a construction project in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, due to an ongoing land title dispute. The court dismissed the builder’s petition, reinforcing the authority of the civic body to halt construction when the ownership of the land is in question.
The case dates back to 2016, when construction was halted on the grounds that the land ownership was disputed. It was later revealed that the land had been allotted to a trust under a government scheme affecting landowners during the development of the area. The builder had been granted development rights but faced opposition when concerns were raised about the authenticity of the land title.
The builder argued that it had been the lessee since 2008 and had invested heavily in the project, with buyers already committed to purchasing units. However, the civic body contended that the project was built on land that had already been allocated to the trust. The High Court agreed with the civic body’s stance, stating that such disputes over land ownership must be settled through civil court proceedings, not through administrative or judicial intervention.
The bench ruled that the stop-work notice was legitimate, dismissing the builder’s plea. However, the builder was granted the option to seek a resolution in civil court. This decision has significant implications for the construction industry in the area, reinforcing the importance of clear land title documentation before initiating large-scale developments.