The Bombay High Court has ordered a full inspection and inquiry into 17 buildings in Thane’s Shil village, which have allegedly been constructed illegally on 5½ acres of land, without any permissions from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) and possibly by seizing land from third parties. A senior judicial officer, under police protection and appointed by the Thane principal district judge, must inspect the sites and submit a detailed report in six weeks, examining the roles of builders and municipal officials.

The court sharply criticized the TMC, stating that such large-scale illegal construction could only have happened with the “blessings” or negligence of the authorities—and if any demolition is needed, TMC was authorized “to proceed without any further court permission”