24 cases pending across 233+ acres as disputes over tenancy and ownership continue
Owning over 233 acres of land across Nagpur, Nagpur University (NU) is currently involved in 24 legal disputes concerning its properties, according to documents presented before the Senate in a recent meeting.
The report, prepared by the university’s general administration and engineering departments based on records maintained by the estate office, detailed the status of NU’s immovable properties. It showed that the university’s land holdings are spread across multiple campuses as well as standalone properties within the city.
The largest portion, 169.91 acres, is located at the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Educational Campus, which houses the university’s main administrative offices in the Jamnalal Bajaj building, several postgraduate departments, research centres, incubation facilities, the guest house, and the vice-chancellor’s residence.
Other major properties include the Rao Bahadur D Laxminarayan Campus, spread over 33.49 acres, accommodating the physical education department, university playgrounds, hostels, and the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar School of Law.
Additional land holdings include the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Administrative Campus (4.1 acres) opposite Maharajbagh, the Main Library Campus (3.6 acres) at Ramdaspeth, and the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Campus (3.9 acres), home to the girls’ hostel and Gandhi Bhavan. The Anwa Vihar and Dr. Niyogi Bungalow Campus covers approximately 7 acres and hosts the academic staff college along with research facilities.
The university also owns smaller properties, such as the Janakibai Thakur Bungalow, Dr. Kamalabai Korke Bungalow, land at Kanhan, and the Dighori Law College Campus.
A significant portion of NU’s properties, however, remains tied up in litigation. The legal status report submitted to the Senate notes 24 ongoing cases in various courts, including the small causes court, civil courts, and district courts in Nagpur. These disputes range from tenancy rights and encroachments to property possession and ownership claims. Cases are at different stages, including hearings, evidence presentation, arguments, replies, and awaiting notices or summons, with hearings scheduled through early 2026.
One of the major disputes concerns land at Kanhan, where the Beharilal Khandelwal Trust filed a civil suit over a school operating on the property. Another long-standing issue involves the Janakibai Thakur bungalow in Dhantoli, which was donated to the university in 1944. The property remains occupied by tenants who have lived there since the donor’s lifetime, prompting the university to initiate legal proceedings for possession.
Similarly, the Kamalabai Korke bungalow in Dharampeth was leased to the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation for use as a Nagpur camp office and residence from April 2025 to April 2028. However, legal action is underway to evict long-standing tenants from the property.
Officials said the university’s legal cell is actively pursuing these cases to reclaim possession and resolve disputes, while efforts continue to compile updated records of all land holdings.
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