[Mumbai Metro Rail] Centre challenges Maharashtra government's move to use land at Kanjurmarg instead of Aarey in Bombay High Court

The Central Government has moved the Bombay High Court challenging an order granting land at Kanjurmarg to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the construction of a Metro Car Shed under the Mumbai Metro Rail project, in lieu of using land at Aarey colony..To this end, an order dated October 1, 2020 issued by the Collector of the Mumbai Suburban District has been challenged. The Centre has claimed that the transferred land is owned by the Government of India. Reference is made to 102 acres of land situated at Survey no. 275 (pt.) at Kanjur village..It is contended that neither the State government nor the Collector were in possession of the land. Hence, the transfer was illegal, the Centre asserts. .The Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni heard arguments in the matter briefly on Friday and directed the State and the MMRDA to clarify their stand next week when the Court will hear the matter on grant of interim reliefs. .The Centre notes that the MMRDA had earlier applied for the transfer of the land situated at Survey no. 275 (pt) in Kanjur for the construction of a Metro Car Shed as part of the Metro line 6 project and the government had begun the process of transferring the land..Later, it is submitted that the Collector unilaterally and suddenly transferred 102 acres of that portion of the land to MMRDA on October 1, 2020, which is challenged in the present plea. .Through the plea, the Centre has claimed that the State and the MMRDA are acting in collusion to evade the payment of the market value of the land and that severe loss has been caused to the exchequer of the Central government consequently..The Centre states that it noticed the illegalities of the State and MMRDA only after officials of the MMRDA and DMRCL started soil testing on the subject land. .The Central government, thereafter, communicated their objection to the Mumbai Collector. However, the Collector allegedly refuted such objections..The Centre’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade also wrote to the Maharashtra government objecting to the development of the car shed at Kanjurmarg. .The State government reportedly had decided to reply to the letter stating that all due diligence had been carried out before the land was transferred to MMRDA..Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh appeared for the Central government. Advocate General AA Kumbhakoni appeared for the State government. Advocate Saket Mone (Vidhii Partners) appeared on behalf of MMRDA..Matter is likely to be listed on December 4, 2020 for hearing on interim reliefs..The Metro Car Shed was originally planned to be developed at Aarey Colony last year, which triggered widespread protest and petitions before the Bombay High Court the Supreme Court. After the Shiv Sena led coalition Government came into power later that year, 800 acres of the Aarey area was declared as a reserved forest and the State decided to develop the Car Shed at Kanjurmarg instead.