An affidavit to that effect was filed before the Bombay High Court by the Deputy Salt Commissioner and Defence Estates Officer pointing out that the land had always been in Centre’s possession.
The affidavit was filed in a disposed of suit of 2006 by which the title of the disputed land came to be purportedly vested with a private company, Adarsh Water Parks and Resorts Pvt. Ltd., through consent terms.
The State government claimed to have learnt of said decree only this year and immediately filed an application before the High Court challenging the consent terms and claiming that the company had obtained the land fraudulently.
The State proposes to construct a metro car shed for its metro rail project on about 100 acres of the land.
The affidavit by the Central government said that it came to know about Adarsh’s claim only after the State filed an application challenging the decree.
The affidavit claimed ownership of over 220 acres of land and the defence estates claimed ownership of over 1,600 acres of land.
“The applicant has no right, title and interest of whatsoever nature in respect of subject land. No other party, be it the applicant or parties to the suit can deal with subject land in any manner. In view of the fact that subject land is owned by the Salt department, the consent terms ought to be set aside,” the affidavit stated.
Source: Barandbench
