The Maharashtra government has ordered a probe into land held by missionary institutions across the state. They want to check properties given during the era and transferred after Independence. The probe will focus on properties originally allotted during the era and allegedly transferred under questionable circumstances after Independence.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced the probe in the Legislative Assembly. He said a high-level committee will be formed to resolve a land dispute in Nashik affecting 5,000 families.

What Triggered the Announcement

The issue was formally raised in the Assembly through a Calling Attention Motion moved by BJP MLA Devyani Pharande, who alleged large-scale irregularities in the ownership and management of church trust lands in Nashik. She referred specifically to a 1949 agreement between “The Church Missionary Trust Association Limited, London” and “The Nashik Diocesan Trust Association Limited,” alleging that the land had originally been handed over by the British to churches under circumstances she described as suspicious.

According to Pharande’s allegations, beyond the land itself, various Christian schools, colleges, and hospitals were also transferred by the British at the time. She further claimed that following the deaths of the original trustees, several of these properties were subsequently handed over to a private individual using what she alleged were fraudulent documents, with the private entity later accused of misusing its position by issuing “No Objection Certificates” for the sale of church land.

Governments Response and the Scope of the Probe

Bawankule described the matter as ” serious”. He said the government will protect citizens rights. A high-level committee will be formed to investigate the issue. The committee will include officials from the Settlement Commissioners office, the Inspector General of Registration department and the police. The probe will not be limited to Nashik. The government will examine all church lands across Maharashtra.

What the Investigation Will Examine

According to Bawankule, the probe will specifically look into whether land transactions that allegedly deviated from their original public purpose can be legally reviewed, and whether such land could potentially be restored to government ownership if irregularities are confirmed. He noted that a different approach would be adopted for parcels where residential developments or government buildings have already been constructed, with a final decision on such cases to follow only after the broader high-level probe concludes.

Governments Position on the Probes Intent

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule clarified that the initiative was not directed against any religion. The objective is to ensure land is used in accordance with the law and for the purpose it was originally allotted.

Part of a Wider Land Administration Push

The church land probe comes alongside a broader push by the Maharashtra Revenue Department to tighten oversight of land transactions statewide. In the same Assembly session, Bawankule also referenced ongoing efforts to identify instances of non-farmers illegally purchasing agricultural land in areas like Dhule district, including cases involving buyers from outside the state acquiring land near infrastructure projects such as Mopa Airport. To address such concerns, registration and stamp duty officers have reportedly been granted centralised database access to verify a buyer’s landholding history anywhere in Maharashtra at the point of registration itself.

Why This Matters

This marks the first time a statewide probe of this scale into land holdings specifically associated with religious institutions has been announced in Maharashtra, and the move is likely to carry significant political and administrative implications in the months ahead. For the roughly 5,000 families affected by the long-pending Nashik dispute, the formation of a dedicated high-level committee offers the prospect of a long-awaited administrative resolution, even as the underlying matter continues to be litigated before the Bombay High Court.

What Comes Next

The Revenue Department will issue guidelines for the statewide survey, in the coming days. The probes findings and any resulting legal action are likely to be watched in the coming months.