This is a petition to the President of India (Copy to the Prime Minister’s Office)  from aggrieved tenants of Mumbai Port Trust (MBPT), Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Dena Bank and other lessors Public Sector Enterprises in Mumbai in the light of the Supreme Court decision in the LIC & anr versus Vita Pvt Ltd and anr delivered on 11th  December 2025.

1.      MBPT leased land covers a large area of 306 hectares approximately 25 kms along the coast and is under the jurisdiction of Estate department of the MBPT. The lessees of MBPT hold leases of various tenures. There are about 752 lessees as per documents verified. The MBPT lessees comprise private residential housing societies, commercial and industrial companies and enterprises, including large corporate listed companies. 

2.      The tenants of LIC, Dena Bank and other PSU lessors affected by the Supreme Court rule by ibid are also part of this petition. 

3.      The MBPT has been charging unfair lease rent of 6% of Ready Reckoner (RR) rate (under PGLM 2015 a central government guideline for ports) as against the Collector rate is 0.5 % and BMC rate is 0.25 % respectively of RR rate for plots which are adjoining each other. Even private landlords do not charge 6% of Ready Reckoner Rates for their premises. This is an unjustifiable and gross violation of the constitutional right to equality given to citizens guaranteed by the Constitution of India.    

4.      Notices are being sent by MBPT to housing societies and commercial premises demanding crores in the lease rent adjustments. Tenants are being sent eviction notices for not paying up these exorbitant and completely unjustified lease rents. The estate officer is seeking eviction in many cases. Such practices are patently unjust and cruel on the lessees who had been paying up the Supreme Court ordered lease rents as per 2004 ruling. The rates in PGLM 2015 also violate the Supreme Court order of 2004 (which orders annual 4 %increase) and are also totally unjustified as per market prevailing lease rents in addition to violating the right to equality of citizens. In spite of paying up the lease rent at 4% annual increase as per the Supreme Court Order of 2004, leases were never renewed by the Mumbai Port Authority; it’s been more than 20 years. 

5.      Where the government of India practices one tax (GST), one income tax law, one unified  labour code, one identity (Aadhaar), one tax identity PAN why is it not practicing the same principle of fairness and equality in the case of MBPT lease rent increase?

6.      Is protecting the homes and livelihoods of many lakhs of law-abiding citizens not the duty of the elected government?  What is the other interest of the government which is greater than the case presented by tenants which is in the public good?

7.      Government is providing free housing to poor people which is a good thing. At the same time, they are acting to throw us out of our homes and jobs and make us poor. How does this make sense? This is not fair, not equal and not in public interest.

8.      Why is the Public Premises Act not protecting the public but instead working in the unjustifiable interest of the government which is itself acting against public good?

9.      Eighty years ago, when the population was small, it was convenient for the Government to lease these lands to us and earn rent. Now the population is four times and people have no other place to go to earn their livelihoods. We are citizens of India and have done nothing illegal. We have all the rights of the public for protection of our homes and livelihoods as enshrined in the Indian Constitution as long as we are paying equal lease rents as the BMC and Collector lands.

10.  By the Supreme Court judgement ibid, the tenants of PSU lessors like LIC and other PSUs are being denied protection under the Rent Act by empowering to the Public Premises Act ignoring the public good completely. 

11.  The lessees of all types of BPT leased properties are hereby joining hands together with tenants of LIC of India, Dena Bank and other public sector enterprises to sign this petition. All the above tenants are aggrieved due to the recent Supreme Court order.

12.  We seek fair and speedy justice and redress under Article 14 “Equality before the Law” and Article 32 “Right to Constitutional remedies.  Since the Government is not cognizant of the injustices we face, and the purposeful introduction of PGLM 2015 by the Government  in contravention of the Supreme Court judgement ibid this petition is addressed to the President of India. 

13. This petition requests the President of India to intervene and secure justice for the petitioners by impressing on the Government of India in New Delhi to :

A.      Acknowledge the urgency of the problem afflicting several lakhs of Indian citizens, including senior citizens, widows, enterprises, businesses and Corporations occupying MBPT and other PSU leased properties in Mumbai. Their homes, jobs, businesses and livelihood are threatened due to the above-mentioned reasons with this dangerous sword hanging over their heads. 

B.      To amend the PGLM 2015 guidelines as they are unreasonable and harsh and not in tune with the existing rates in the same neighbourhood,

C.     To find amicable and harmonious solutions through discussions with citizens for public good.

14. This petition is a prayer to the President of India to come to the aid of its citizens suffering under the sword of these unjust policies. The government is entrusted with the sacred Constitutional responsibility to correct such injustices and make one Revenue Law for the entire Nation on the basis of the Ready Reckoner Value fixed for each State of the Union of India at the rate of 0.25% or 0.5% respectively. We further submit that the BPT Act of 1873 is old and obsolete and should be substituted by one Revenue law as stated above. 

Signed by aggrieved MBPT Lessees and Public Sector Undertaking Lessees in Mumbai in January 2026 in Mumbai.