Swachh Association Moves Bombay High Court Against PDKV Land Allotment
Nagpur, India: Swachh Association has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court’s Nagpur Bench, challenging the allotment of Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) land to private companies for commercial and non-agricultural purposes. The petition, filed by Anusaya Chhabrani, questions the government’s decision to use land meant for agricultural research for business activities.
The petitioner argued that PDKV, an agricultural university, was established to focus solely on agricultural research and education. Government Resolutions issued on July 30, 2004, and May 30, 2011, by the Maharashtra Agriculture Department had stated that PDKV’s land serves as the "lungs of the city" and should not be used for commercial purposes. The resolutions emphasized that the land must be preserved for agriculture-related education, research, and development, with the state government’s approval.
However, the petition highlights cases where PDKV land in Nagpur was given to private firms such as JP Enterprises and DP Jain & Co to set up Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants, which the petitioner claims violates the stated government policies.
A bench comprising Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Vrushali Joshi has taken note of the matter and issued notices to the respondents. The court has also restrained private entities from carrying out any commercial or non-agricultural activities on PDKV land until the petition is resolved.
Advocates Sumeet P. Bodalkar and Parth C. Malviya represented the petitioner, while AGP Ghodeshwar accepted the notice on behalf of the Maharashtra government. The case is now pending further hearing.
