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Action follows complaint by Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh
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Revenue Minister directs immediate investigation into alleged transfer of temple-linked Devrai land to the State Government
Ratnagiri, Maharashtra – The Maharashtra Government has taken cognisance of the Revenue Department’s action of allegedly transferring ancient Devrai (sacred grove) and Devarahati (temple-owned sacred land) lands—considered the backbone of Konkan’s biodiversity, environment and cultural heritage, into the name of the Maharashtra Government without any prior notice.
Following a demand made by Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has directed the Deputy Secretary of the Revenue Department to conduct a thorough inquiry into the entire matter and submit an immediate report. While this positive step by the Government has brought temporary relief to thousands of villagers and temple administrators across the Konkan region, the Mandir Mahasangh has resolved to continue its struggle until the original entries are restored in the 7/12 land records.
Memorandum submitted to CM, Deputy CM and Revenue Minister
Shri. Sunil Ghanwat, National Organiser of Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, highlighted the administration’s arbitrary functioning in a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
The memorandum states that the concerned Tehsildars misinterpreted a 2018 letter issued by the Ratnagiri District Collector and took unilateral action without issuing individual notices or granting an opportunity to be heard. Thousands of acres of Devrai land were reportedly classified as ‘illegal religious sites’, and the names of the respective Devasthans recorded in the 7/12 extracts were removed and replaced with ‘Government of Maharashtra’.
Devrai: A sacred forest, not an illegal structure
Local villagers and Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh strongly opposed the action, stating that Devrai is not an illegal man-made structure but an age-old sacred forest associated with nature and temple property.
The Mahasangh has objected that this action directly violates the legal provisions contained in Section 150 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. Local villagers have also expressed apprehension that the large-scale transfer of ownership of these ecologically sensitive forest lands may be part of a conspiracy to appropriate them and eventually hand them over to builders.
Concerns over cultural heritage and ecological balance
This action of the government has endangered Konkan’s cultural heritage as well as its ecological balance. Questions are also being raised as to whether this is a precursor to the proposed Maharashtra Devasthan Inam Abolition Draft, 2026, which is alleged to facilitate the takeover of approximately 5.5 lakh hectares of temple land across Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’s key demands
In its memorandum, Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh has made three principal demands:
- Restore the names of the respective Devasthans in the affected 7/12 land records.
- Conduct a high-level inquiry against the revenue officials who allegedly violated the law.
- Ensure that local Gram Sabhas are consulted before any future decisions concerning these lands are taken.
