Controversial Land Dispute in Thane: Complaint Filed Against Unauthorized Bhoomipujan

Thane, 11th March 2024: On Thursday night, a complaint was lodged at a Thane police station against unidentified individuals regarding a planned Bhoomipujan for a compound wall around a playground situated on a contested plot of land, claimed by a local church on Pokhran Road.

The complainants, a priest, and members of the Our Lady of Mercy Church, which has ongoing legal proceedings in various forums, including the Bombay High Court, Thane Civil Court, and the Lokayukta, assert that the plot is historically linked to the ruins of a Portuguese-era structure known as Our Lady of Mercy church.

Case Background:

The central plot, earmarked as a playground in the Thane City Development Plan, was sold in 2007 for Rs20 crore by a trust associated with another Thane church, the St John the Baptist Church, to a well-known builder. The sale faced challenges from members of Our Lady of Mercy church, leading to legal battles in the Charity Commissioner’s office and the Bombay High Court. Despite pending cases, the church members took action to prevent the setup of pandals on the plot on Thursday night, with the police eventually filing a complaint.

Sunita Banis, the advocate representing the church trust, highlighted a previous directive from a tribunal, which, irrespective of the pending litigation, instructed the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to construct a boundary wall. The TMC, in turn, sanctioned Rs1 crore for the project, allegedly with an ulterior motive to acquire the land.

Current Developments:

The construction company that acquired the plot has transferred it to the TMC in exchange for Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) for use in another city project. Although the complaint at the Vartak Nagar police station does not name specific individuals, church members claim that a local Member of the Legislative Assembly, Pratap Sarnaik, has displayed banners announcing the Bhoomi puja for the playground’s boundary wall.

Melwyn Fernandes, a member of Our Lady of Mercy Church, contends that the Bhoomi puja is unlawful since the legal status of the ground as a playground is yet to be determined by the courts. He asserts that the church plot remains highly disputed, with the matter being sub judice in various courts, including the High Court and Upalokayukta, and the ceremony is proceeding without the consent of civic authorities. Vartak Nagar police acknowledged the filed complaint but refrained from providing further comments.