Bhushan Vijay Vartak vs District Collector, Palghar

ik-20779138 Bombay High Court 5 March 2026 • WRIT PETITION NO. 2826 OF 2026 • 18 min read

Judges (1)

Counsel (7)

Arshad Shaikh Counsel Petitioner Neha S. Bhide Counsel Respondent Pooja Patil Counsel Respondent S.D. Vyas Counsel Respondent S.R. Nargolkar Counsel Petitioner S.S. Nargolkar Counsel Petitioner Shreevidya Nargolkar Counsel Petitioner

Parties (2)

District Collector, Palghar Respondent Bhushan Vijay Vartak Petitioner

Case Significance

Bhushan Vijay Vartak vs District Collector, Palghar is a Bombay High Court decision dated March 5, 2026 (citation: ik-20779138). The petitioner challenged the District Collector's rejection of his application for mutation of revenue records to reflect concurrent orders of the SDO and Maharashtra Revenue Tribunal classifying his lands as 'agricultural lands' rather than 'private forest lands' under the Maharashtra Private Forest Act. The Court found the Collector's insistence on Central Government permission was unjustified since the SDO and MRT had already determined the lands were agricultural. The petition was allowe The case was heard by Justice Milind N. Jadhav.

Summary

The petitioner challenged the District Collector's rejection of his application for mutation of revenue records to reflect concurrent orders of the SDO and Maharashtra Revenue Tribunal classifying his lands as 'agricultural lands' rather than 'private forest lands' under the Maharashtra Private Forest Act. The Court found the Collector's insistence on Central Government permission was unjustified since the SDO and MRT had already determined the lands were agricultural. The petition was allowed, the Collector's order was quashed, and mutation was directed within four weeks without requiring Central Government permission.

What was the outcome of Bhushan Vijay Vartak vs District Collector, Palghar?

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official India Courts portal.

Read on Indian Kanoon

Source: Indian Kanoon (ik-20779138)