Archive · 3 Jan 2026
Court Rules in Godrej's Favor on Vikhroli Land Dispute
A big company called Godrej has been fighting for 35 years to keep a piece of land in Mumbai.
The government wanted to say the land was a slum, but the court said no.
Godrej said the small houses on the land were temporary for workers and not real slums.
The court agreed and said the government can't just say it's a slum without proof.
There's still another case about who owns the land, but for now, Godrej won this part of the fight.
Mumbai civil court ruled in favor of Godrej & Boyce, restraining authorities from declaring 7,500 sq mt Vikhroli land as a slum.
Dispute centered around temporary hutments for laborers, which Godrej claimed were rent-free and not permanent.
Court rejected authorities' argument, noting the 1978 slum notification was issued without awaiting the High Court's decision on ownership.
Court found no evidence of lack of amenities in the hutments, making the Slum Act inapplicable.
Another petition by the state government seeking ownership of the land is still pending in the Bombay High Court.
- Who
- Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd vs. Mumbai authorities and state government
- What
- Court ruling in favor of Godrej, restraining authorities from declaring land as slum
- When
- Court ruling on January 2, 2024; original dispute since 1978
- Where
- Vikhroli, Mumbai
- Why
- Godrej argued hutments were temporary and rent-free for laborers; authorities claimed hutments lacked basic amenities
- Land Area
- 7,500 sq mt
- Location
- Vikhroli, Mumbai
- Dispute Duration
- 35 years
- Hutments Status
- Temporary, rent-free for laborers
- Court Decision
- Restrained authorities from declaring land as slum
- Pending Case
- State government's ownership petition in Bombay High Court
- Court's Reasoning
- Slum Act not applicable, no evidence of lack of amenities