Church asked to pay ₹31.75 lakh within 21 days or face statutory action
Mumbai – The ‘Church of Scotland Trust’ has been unauthorisedly occupying government land in the Fort area here for the past 33 years. In this matter, the Mumbai City District Collector’s office has issued a final recovery notice to the Church.
For the unauthorised use of 1137.32 square metres of land bearing Survey No. 1405, the ‘Church of Scotland Trust’ has been issued a final notice for recovery of Rs 31,74,895 (Thirty-One Lakh Seventy-Four Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety-Five rupees). The administration has warned that if this amount is not deposited in the government treasury within the next 21 days, statutory action will be initiated.
🚨 Action in Mumbai Land Case!
Following a complaint by Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, the Mumbai City Collector has issued a final recovery notice to the Church of Scotland Trust for occupying prime government land in Fort without authorisation for 33 years.
📌 The original tenant… pic.twitter.com/Uz4ZPiGKeJ
— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) June 28, 2026
This government land was leased on 18 June 1894 for 99 years to the institution named ‘Free Church of Scotland’. The lease period expired on 13 June 1993; however, even after 33 years of the expiry, the government had neither taken possession of the land nor renewed the lease.
Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad’s initiative
Taking cognizance of this serious matter, the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad submitted a written complaint to the Revenue Department. According to the complaint, the original lessee institution no longer exists, and the ‘Church of Saint Andrew and Saint Columba’ is unauthorisedly occupying this valuable government land without any legal transfer or authorisation.
21-day deadline set by the District Collector
Taking note of the complaint, the Mumbai City District Collector’s office issued a fresh notice to the concerned trust on 23 June 2026. As per the order dated 3 January 2022, it was mandatory to deposit Rs 31,74,895 in the government account for lease renewal. Now, the Resident Deputy Collector has granted a final 21-day period through the letter dated 23 June.
If the outstanding amount is not deposited through the GRAS (G.R.A.S.) system and the authorised challan is not submitted to the District Collector’s office within the stipulated period, strict statutory action will be taken as per rules.
The struggle carried out by the Hindu Vidhiagya Parishad against institutions illegally occupying government land and causing loss to government revenue has achieved major success with the issuance of this notice.
Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad flags illegal occupation of Church on government land in Mumbai
May 20, 2026
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Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad demands immediate action
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Over ₹3.17 crore pending for more than three years
Mumbai – Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad has alleged that approximately 1,137.32 sq. m of government land in Mumbai’s prominent Fort area has been under illegal possession for the past 33 years by the Free Church of Scotland (now Church of St Andrew and St Columba).
In this regard, the Parishad has written to the Secretary of the Revenue Department, demanding action against the concerned officials and immediate restoration of the land to government control.
According to the complaint, in 1894, the land bearing Survey No. 1405 in the Fort area was leased to the then Free Church of Scotland for 99 years. In the 1930s, this institution was merged into the Church of St Andrew and St Columba.
The lease expired on 13 June 1993. As per rules, the government was required either to renew the lease or to evict the institution and take possession of the land. However, for the past three decades, no concrete action has been taken by the Mumbai City Collector.
Original lessee no longer exists; only notices issued by administration
The original lessee, Free Church of Scotland, no longer exists. Despite this, the Church of St Andrew and St Columba continues to occupy the land. The institution has not produced any valid documentation for transfer of rights, yet the Collector’s office has limited its action to issuing notices.
₹3.17 Crore pending for over three years
In 2022, the Collector issued a notice demanding ₹3,17,04,895 as pending dues. However, this amount remains unpaid.
Despite having powers under Section 53 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code to act against unauthorised occupation, the administration has not taken steps to recover the dues over the past three years.
Demand for action against responsible officials – Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar
Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, National President of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, stated that this issue is not limited to a single case. Across Maharashtra, several government lands continue to be misused even after lease periods have expired.
Audit reports have repeatedly pointed to significant revenue losses. Due to administrative inaction, the land remains under occupation. He has demanded strict disciplinary action against the responsible officials.
