Patanjali Foods moves Bombay High Court over land encroachments in Raigad

Patanjali Foods seeks Bombay High Court intervention to remove illegal structures on company's land in Raigad district.

Patanjali Foods Private Limited has approached the Bombay High Court seeking directions to the Maharashtra government and its authorities to remove structures allegedly constructed and occupied illegally on the company’s land at Patalganga, Savroli Kharpada Road, in Khalapur taluka of Raigad district.

There are eight respondents named in the matter. The petition has arrayed the Maharashtra government and its statutory authorities — including the Special Planning Authority and the local Tehsildar — holding them responsible for safeguarding the land against encroachments and ensuring eviction of unauthorised occupants. The chief engineer and deputy executive engineer have also been named for allegedly allowing the encroachment and providing electricity connections to the illegal constructions.

The petition accuses specific individuals — Sunil Malsure of illegally constructing a local politician’s office (referred to as an SM office), Mayur Ravindra Devghare of building a hotel, and Sudesh Khandagale of erecting a tyre puncture repair shop on the said land.

Advocate Apoorv Srivastava, appearing for the petitioner, submitted told The Hindu that despite raising the issue through meetings and written representations, government authorities had failed to take cognisance. “By not taking any action, the authorities have allowed the illegal encroachers to unlawfully use, occupy and take possession of the land that belongs to Patanjali,” he said.

The plea stated that, aggrieved by the inaction of the respondent authorities, the company was “forced to approach the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950,” and sought a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate directions directing the concerned authorities to initiate action against the alleged encroachers and trespassers.

“Illegal encroachments on the subject lands have increased from the date of purchase until today, and yet the respondents and its concerned authorities have shown no interference in the administration of the areas within its local limits and have allowed such miscreants to extend their hutments illegally to its full enjoyment on private land owned by the petitioners,” the petition stated. It further added that this situation “has posed a great threat to the lives of the people associated with the petitioner’s factory.”

With regard to the tyre puncture shop, the company submitted that the unit operates an air-filling machine that poses a significant hazard. “Any malfunction or mishap involving the said machine has the potential to cause grave disruptions to the factory’s operations, extensive damage to its machinery, and possible loss of life or injury to its workers,” it said.