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A civil court in Mumbai has ruled that Godrej & Boyce's Vikhroli land cannot be classified as a slum, setting aside a government notification issued in the late 1970s under the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act. The notification had labeled around 7,850 square metres of the property as a slum. The court found the declaration legally invalid and issued an injunction preventing authorities from treating the land as a slum unless a fresh, valid declaration is made. The ruling also protects the company's access and use of the land.
A civil court in Mumbai has delivered a key ruling in favor of Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd, deciding that a part of the company's land in Vikhroli should not be considered a slum area. The decision overturns a government notification from the late 1970s that had classified roughly 7,850 square metres of the property as a slum under the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act. The court declared the notification invalid and restrained authorities from treating the land as a slum unless a new, legally valid declaration is issued. Advertisement
The origins of this dispute go back nearly five decades, when temporary huts on the site were declared a slum by the deputy collector. Godrej & Boyce had argued that the structures were temporary transit accommodations for migrant workers engaged in company construction projects. These workers were not permanent residents, nor were they paying rent. Records show that the government did not act on the original notification for more than ten years, and subsequent inspections confirmed the site was largely vacant, weakening the claim for slum classification.
In its judgment, the court noted that the earlier slum notification did not comply with legal procedures. The judge observed that the notification was issued while ownership disputes over the Vikhroli land were still pending in the High Court. The court ruled that applying redevelopment powers under slum laws in such circumstances was improper. A permanent injunction has been issued, barring state authorities and officials from classifying the land as a slum without following proper legal procedures.
The ruling also addresses issues of unauthorized interference. Godrej & Boyce had raised concerns about activists and others entering the property without permission and attempting to pressure workers by claiming the land would be transferred to occupants. The court has explicitly prohibited such actions and ensured that company personnel and laborers can access the property without obstruction.
This judgment marks the conclusion of the specific legal battle over slum classification on this portion of Vikhroli land. However, Godrej & Boyce has faced other legal challenges concerning land acquisition for infrastructure projects in the area. In the past, the Bombay High Court had rejected the company's challenge to the acquisition of parts of its Vikhroli land for a major rail project, highlighting the complex balance between private property rights and public development requirements.
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