Bombay HC dismisses challenges to Thackeray memorial lease
- Newsband
- 01 Jul, 2025
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has dismissed multiple Public Interest Litigations challenging the Maharashtra government’s 2017 decision to lease the iconic Mayor’s Bungalow at Shivaji Park, Dadar, for Rs 1 per year to a Shiv Sena-backed trust to build a memorial for late leader Bal Thackeray.
A bench led by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne ruled that all legal procedures, including public notices, heritage approvals, and land-use changes under the MRTP Act, were properly followed.
Petitioners argued that a prime public asset worth around Rs 1,000-1,200 crore had been undervalued and that changes in law enabled the nominal lease. However, the government, BMC, and Heritage Conservation Committee maintained that the bungalow is no longer in the green zone, approvals were granted, and similar leases had been granted previously. The court’s decision removes legal obstacles and paves the way for the memorial’s opening ahead of Bal Thackeray’s centenary in 2026.
