Special Correspondent: Arun Sharma,Mumbai

78-Year-Old Land Dispute Concludes as Bombay High Court Draws Final Curtain on 1947 Case


Bringing an end to one of Mumbai’s oldest pending legal battles, the Bombay High Court has formally closed a land dispute originally filed in October 1947 — the year India gained Independence. The case, which lingered for nearly eight decades, is widely regarded as among the longest-running matters in the court’s history.


The litigation revolved around a vast tract of land in Dahisar village, North Mumbai, spanning approximately 2,891 acres (over 1,100 hectares) — an expanse said to be nearly three-and-a-half times the size of Central Park in New York.


Origins of the Dispute
Suit filed: October 7, 1947
Property owner: Haji Alimohammed Haji Kasum
Petitioner: His widow, Badrushama
Core issue: Inheritance dispute among legal heirs

Additional complications: Sale of land to private parties and state acquisition under the Salsette Law and Forest Act
Following the original owner’s death, disagreements over succession triggered prolonged litigation. Over the years, the dispute became increasingly complex, involving transfers to private entities and partial acquisition by the state.


Key Court Observations
Justice Farhan Dubash, while passing the final order this month, observed that the matter was “possibly the oldest pending case” before the Bombay High Court.


Notable milestones in the case:
1950: Appointment of a Court Receiver to manage the property
November 25, 1952: Preliminary decree determining the legal shares of all heirs
Legal proceedings spanning four generations


Settlement and Closure
After decades of litigation, the parties ultimately reached an amicable settlement.
February 5, 2026: Consent terms filed before the court
Settlement recorded in the presence of senior advocate Kevic Setalvad and other counsel
Approximately ₹7 lakh paid towards Court Receiver expenses
Remaining funds directed to be returned to the family by February 20, 2026
Case officially removed from the pending list and marked as disposed


The court’s order formally brought the matter to a close, ending a dispute that had outlived multiple generations of litigants.


A Historic Legal Closure
The conclusion of the 78-year-old dispute marks a significant moment in the judicial history of Mumbai. More than just a property battle, the case reflects the endurance — and eventual resolution — of long-standing inheritance conflicts through negotiation and consensus.


With the Bombay High Court drawing the final curtain, a legal saga that began in the dawn of India’s Independence has finally reached its definitive end.