Tribal hamlet challenges eviction notice issued by IIT-Bombay
MUMBAI: The gram sabha of
Bhangsila Adivasi Gaon
served a legal notice on Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) last month in response to an
eviction notice
served on them in January.
The IITB notice, referring to a Bombay high court order of Jan 2, 2025, states the tribals are in unauthorised and illegal occupation of land (Survey No. 22 and CTS No. 67) and asserted the land is owned by IIT-B. It warned the tribals of forcible eviction as per law for failure to vacate.
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Bhangsila pada, comprising 90 tribal homes, is part of
Aarey Colony
and abuts Vihar Lake. The tribal hamlet is across the road from the rear side of the IIT-B campus, with BMC's water pipelines on either side of the road. To access the hamlet, one has to duck under the pipeline.
Meena Raote, sarpanch of Bhangsila Gaon, said they are the sixth generation residing on the land. They have documents, including school leaving certificates of ancestors who studied in the local BMC schools, and their ID cards as many worked in BMC. Around 33 of them received certificates certifying their Adivasi status, while another 45 are now being asked by the Mulund tehsildar to produce more documents as proof of being tribals.
Kisan Kolekar said they are being asked to go to Mira Road, where they are being provided SRA flats. "This is our home. Why should we move elsewhere? We are not slum dwellers. Why should we be treated as encroachers?" he asked.
Rajashree Parab said their toilets have been demolished, and they are forced to answer nature's call in the open and at night. "There are leopards in the area, and we face a daily threat to life."
In 2011, IITB was given this land by MMRDA in lieu of land surrendered for the widening of JVLR. In their legal notice, the sabha said they have been subjected to repeated eviction notices since 2011 despite being in continuous possession of the land since the British era. The tribals claim to have made multiple representations to various govt authorities seeking redressal but to no effect.
The legal notice to IIT-B states the institute's actions as "wholly untenable in law" and demands its withdrawal.
An IIT-B spokesperson said, "We are acting as per court order and are offering homes for rehabilitation." The sabha's notice says the court order does not apply to them.
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