Implement Urban Land Ceiling Act in Mumbai: HC to Govt

Mumbai, Aug 17 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the state government to implement the provisions of Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act,1976 (ULC Act) by identifying and acquiring excess vacant land in possession of private persons/institutions.

The direction came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by former Janta Dal MLA P B Samant along with other leaders including Mrinal Gore in December last.

It was alleged in the petition that there were about 15,000 acres of vacant land, held by 338 private entities in Mumbai region that were to be acquired for being in excess of limit provided by ULC Act for the last 30 years, which could be used to rehablitate slum dwellers.

However, state government pleader R M Sawant today submitted before a division bench comrpising Justices R M Lodha and S A Bobde, that they had identified some 1,009.75 acres of land as being in excess of ULC limits, and the process of acquisition was on.

The court directed the state to act swiftly and acquire this identified land within six months and scheduled the next hearing for February 15, 2007.

As regards the land which is yet to be identified and declared as being in excess of ULC limits, the court has given a time of 16 months, to expedite the procedure and pass necessary orders by December 31, 2007.

UNI XR-ARM KU MSJ PM2215