After operating from temporary accommodations for nearly a decade, Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) Mumbai has finally commenced development of its permanent campus in Pahadi, Goregaon Village. The ambitious project, spanning 35 acres, represents a significant milestone for the institution established in 2014. However, the MNLU Mumbai permanent campus faces mounting environmental concerns related to Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations and wetland conservation issues, creating a complex legal and ecological battleground.
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The Journey to a Permanent Home
Since its establishment in 2014 under the Maharashtra National Law University Act VI of 2014, MNLU Mumbai has struggled to secure a permanent location. The university initially shared facilities with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Chembur, with hostel accommodations in CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai. In 2017, operations shifted to the Centre for Excellence in Telecom Technology and Management (CETTM) at Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, where the institution continues to function on a leased arrangement.
The allocation of land for the MNLU Mumbai permanent campus in Pahadi, Goregaon Village, was notified by the Maharashtra government in May 2023. This location offers excellent connectivity by air, road, and rail, making it strategically positioned within India’s financial capital. The project gained significant momentum when, on October 3, 2024, the Government of Maharashtra approved Rs 184 crore for establishing a full-fledged residential campus infrastructure.
Project Scale and Development Timeline
The MNLU Mumbai permanent campus project encompasses a substantial 35-acre plot, though some reports indicate the total allocated land may extend to 74.13 acres when considering adjacent developments. According to university officials, preliminary work, including levelling, fencing, and road construction, has already begun at the site. A technical committee formed at the university level has been reviewing architectural proposals, having completed the first round of presentations and shortlisted potential architects.
Vice Chancellor Professor Dilip Ukey has expressed optimism about the project timeline, stating the university hopes to move into the first phase of the MNLU Mumbai permanent campus within two years. This aggressive timeline reflects the urgent need for expanded facilities, as the current temporary premises provide only limited space across four floors, significantly constraining the university’s ability to launch new programs, including the BBA LLB course for which permission has already been obtained.
In June 2025, the Maharashtra cabinet further demonstrated its commitment by sanctioning a stamp duty concession of Rs 186 crore for the project, reducing the financial burden on the university and facilitating faster development.
Environmental Concerns Take Centre Stage
The MNLU Mumbai permanent campus project has encountered substantial opposition from environmental activists and residents who claim the designated land falls within ecologically sensitive zones. In October 2025, activist Zoru Bhathena sent a formal letter of objection to Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai and Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court Shree Chandrashekhar, who serve as Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor, respectively, of MNLU Mumbai.
The objectors centre on claims that the plot is a natural wetland, marked on the National and State Wetland Atlas, and therefore protected under environmental regulations. Bhathena has also filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court challenging the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) 2023 approval for development activities on a 191.39-hectare plot in Pahadi, Goregaon, which activists claim has been identified as a wetland since 1991 by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA).
Environmental activist Sumesh Lekhi has added that original CRZ maps classify portions of the area under CRZ-1, specifically designated as mudflat and mangroves. According to CRZ and Wetland Rules, no development or reclamation is permissible on CRZ-1 wetland plots, making any construction activity potentially illegal.
Legal Proceedings and Government Response
In April 2025, the Bombay High Court issued notices to the BMC, MCZMA, and Konkan Wetland Committee regarding the PIL alleging illegal landfilling on wetland areas in Pahadi Goregaon. While the court refused to grant an interim stay on further landfilling activities, it has initiated a formal inquiry into the matter. The case highlights the tension between development needs and environmental protection in Mumbai’s rapidly urbanising landscape.
The land classification history adds another layer of complexity to the MNLU Mumbai permanent campus controversy. The site was formerly reserved as a natural area under Mumbai’s Development Plan before being reclassified under residential use in DCPR 2034. Environmental activists argue that this administrative reclassification does not negate the land’s CRZ-1 status or its ecological significance as a wetland habitat.
Private developers involved in adjacent plots have countered that the PIL is motivated and constitutes an abuse of legal process. They contend the land does not fall within the CRZ-1 zone except possibly at its fringes, and claim the Wetland Rules do not apply since the area is governed by CRZ 2011 regulations rather than newer wetland protection frameworks.
Campus Requirements and Academic Constraints
The urgency for the MNLU Mumbai permanent campus stems from severe space constraints at the current Powai facility. With only portions of four floors available, the university cannot accommodate growing student numbers or expand its academic offerings. MNLU Mumbai currently enrols students for its flagship five-year integrated BA LLB (Hons.) program through the highly competitive Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), along with specialised LLM programs and other postgraduate courses.
The institution has distinguished itself through innovative programs, including an MA in Mediation and Conflict Resolution, executive LLM courses, specialised LLM programs in Investment and Securities Law (with NISM) and Insolvency Law (with BSE Mumbai). However, these programs require adequate physical infrastructure, libraries, moot courts, meditation centres, and residential facilities that the temporary campus cannot adequately provide.
Stakeholder Perspectives and Future Outlook
Mumbai Suburban District Collector Saurabh Katiyar has stated that if the MNLU Mumbai permanent campus has received proper government permissions, construction can proceed. However, he has indicated he will seek updates on the matter, suggesting ongoing official scrutiny of the environmental concerns raised.
Environmental activists have called upon MNLU to withdraw its development proposal in Pahadi, Goregaon, urging the institution to uphold ecological laws and take necessary steps to protect, preserve, and conserve wetland plots. They emphasise that state environment minister Pankaja Munde had reportedly issued a stay on construction, though the university recently floated an Expression of Interest (EOI) for appointing a project management consultant, indicating plans to move forward.
Meanwhile, residents report that although main construction has not commenced, an approach road has been built, and landfilling activities continue at the site, raising concerns about irreversible environmental damage occurring even before legal disputes are resolved.
Conclusion: Balancing Development and Environmental Stewardship
Conclusion: Balancing Development and Environmental StewardshipThe MNLU Mumbai permanent campus project represents a critical juncture where educational infrastructure needs intersect with environmental protection imperatives. After operating from temporary facilities for over a decade, the university’s requirement for a dedicated campus is undeniable. The Rs 184 crore funding approval and stamp duty concessions demonstrate the Maharashtra government’s commitment to legal education infrastructure.
However, the environmental concerns surrounding the MNLU Mumbai permanent campus cannot be dismissed lightly. Wetlands provide crucial ecosystem services, including flood control, water purification, and biodiversity habitat, particularly important in Mumbai’s vulnerable coastal environment. The ongoing legal proceedings will ultimately determine whether development can proceed, and under what conditions.
As the Bombay High Court examines the evidence and various stakeholders present their arguments, the case may set important precedents for future development projects in ecologically sensitive areas. The resolution will need to balance the legitimate educational needs of Maharashtra’s premier law university with the imperative of protecting Mumbai’s rapidly diminishing natural ecosystems. The outcome of this environmental controversy will significantly impact not only the MNLU Mumbai permanent campus timeline but also broader questions about sustainable urban development in India’s most populous metropolitan area.
