India, Aug. 1 -- The state forest department is waging a legal battle to recover 1,500 acres of forest land in Palghar district, which has been transferred to a private individual. The department has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, urging a stay on an order of the Maharashtra Revenue Tribunal (MRT) awarding the land to the Lele family, and a subsequent contempt order delivered by the Bombay High Court.

Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, the state's chief conservator of forests, said, "We have submitted the SLP in the Supreme Court and have demanded an immediate stay on the decision."

The 1,500 acres in Wada taluka in Palghar district is former 'inam land', a grant given to the Lele family by the erstwhile British colonia...