Revenue dept issues revision notices to 439 people over alleged sub-division of their plots

Nashik: The office of the assistant collector and sub-divisional officer (SDO), Nashik, has issued revision notices to 439 people linked to 49 contentious land transactions, invoking Section 257 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (MLRC), 1966. The action follows a revision application filed by the Nashik tehsildar, directing landholders to produce valid documents supporting the alleged sub-division of their plots.The notices, dated March 18 and signed by naib tehsildar Jitendra Dhanrale, cover properties spread across Adgaon, Deolali, Wadner Dumala, Panchak, Mhasrul, Nandur Dasak, Gangapur, Chincholi and several other localities in Nashik. "A probe by the deputy superintendent of land records found that developers had submitted fabricated sub-division maps to talathi offices. Despite no actual measurement or legal division, records were manipulated to show fragmented plots in the names of 439 holders," additional tahsildar Amol Nikam said.At the core of the case is the alleged attempt to circumvent the state's Inclusive Housing Scheme, which mandates that residential projects larger than 4,000sqm reserve 20% of their area for EWS (economically weaker section) and LIG (low-income group) housing, to be transferred to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada).To evade this requirement, developers purportedly created artificial land fragments, each under the 4,000sqm threshold, using forged documents and falsified layouts. This systematic manipulation triggered a criminal case at the Sarkarwada police station involving 150 builders and landowners.The SDO has scheduled a hearing on March 27 at 3pm, warning that if any of the 439 notice recipients failed to appear, the office would proceed ex parte and might strike their names off the Record of Rights.The alleged malpractice dates back to 2013, soon after the inclusive housing policy came into force. Over the years, developers in areas like Mhasrul, Adgaon and Deolali are believed to have used forged signatures of land records officials and manipulated layout plans. The irregularities surfaced after a high-level committee led by the additional district collector examined 128 projects and flagged 49 for serious violations. The authorities estimated that Nashik forfeited nearly 6,500 potential EWS homes due to these tactics.