Panel orders action against IIT-Bombay under SC/ST Act for denying tribals water

MUMBAI: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has directed the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) not to evict the tribals of Bhangshila Pada without following the legal process.

In its order dated May 26, 2025, it further directed that action be taken under various sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those blocking the supply of water and electricity and the access road of the tribals. The fight for ownership of the land between the institution and the tribals dates back to 2007. In Jan this year, IIT-B, referring to a Bombay High Court order of Jan 2, 2025, stated the tribals were in unauthorised and illegal occupation of land (Survey No.

22 and CTS No. 67) and asserted IIT-B was the landowner. The notice warned the tribals of forcible eviction as per law for failure to vacate.

The tribals, in turn, sent a legal notice to the institution claiming they have been in continuous possession of the land since the British era. Two years ago, the village Sarpanch, Meena Raote, filed a complaint with the Commission that in 2007, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT-B and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the tribals were declared as encroachers and were being forcibly evicted.

Raote said the property card bears her grandfather's name, but there are no basic facilities. She further said that based on a 2013 biometric survey, the tribal families are being declared encroachers.The Commission in 2023 directed the Mumbai suburban collector to submit a report. In its report, the collector pointed out that 10,000 square metres of IIT-B land were acquired for the widening of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road.

A 2010 survey by NGO SPARC recorded 137 slum dwellers, of which 97 accepted rehabilitation while others, including certain tribal families, refused.The Commission held a hearing in May this year and ordered a stay on the eviction of the tribals. In another development, the Kurla Tehsildar directed the BMC not to block the access road to Bhangshila Pada."The human habitation at Bhangshila Tribal Pada is an old one, and for their basic needs, access to an ambulance, gas cylinder for domestic use, and transport of other daily essentials is necessary. Hence, it is not proper to block their access.

Therefore, they be granted permission to go to and fro by your security," reads the letter. The panel has asked IIT-B to submit docucments showing its land ownership.